“Here I, Mr. Doctor, brought you a little attention …” This is still for many, especially earlier born, frequent routine. Is it a simple expression of gratitude, or can lawyers see much more?
It is always an angle of view and it is necessary to think about each individual case. If a grandmother comes to the office and, following the example of a series of films from the medical environment, the poets will bring the doctor egg, coffee, or even a bottle of something good at a reasonable price as a thank you for their work and even saving life, it may not be automatically considered to be a bribe. But if it does not expect any other benefits that such a doctor would give her.
Thin border
So we can thank, but at what moment does such an guileless gift become a bribe whose handover and acceptance can have legal consequences? The border is really thin and we should be careful about it. Although it is “only” a substantive expression of gratitude, it is necessary to consider the value of gifts that must not be so -called considerable.
Must not affect the future
Furthermore, the donor must not expect that his behavior in the future will be preferred in any way to other patients. Have you noticed that we haven’t mentioned financial gifts yet? Even if it had such a gift similar to the material, it is usually seen a little less lenient.
For five years “to tracksuits”
According to our Criminal Code, the acceptance of a bribe in any form is a criminal offense with a relatively high rate that can climb up to a five-year stay behind bars, but if it is a particularly high sum or expensive gift, the judges may be even more stricter. But beware: a similar penalty is also exposed to a person who has a bribe even in exchange for above -standard treatment, advantages in treatment or preferential examination, and so on.
Work without work
The truth is that the imprisonment is the last option to which the courts reach. However, even fines or doctors ban the performance of the profession are not pleasant. In such a case, doctors are threatened not only with a sentence from the court, but also from the professional chamber.
Right to equal access to health care
Every citizen of the Republic has not only according to the Constitution, but also under other laws to have equal access to health care. If we wanted to be specific, we can mention, for example, the 2011 Health Services Act, according to which health care is to be provided to all citizens on the basis of their health needs regardless of personal, social or economic situation.
The Act on the Protection of Patients’ Rights from the same year also speaks. How do you see it? Is it a bribe to the doctor’s expression and can it be expected for other benefits? You better not play with such a seeming little thing, you could get into trouble.
Sources: Advokatnidenik.cz, www.pravnilinka.cz, www.kurzy.cz
