[Medical attitude and legal concepts about some patient rights].
OBJECTIVE
To explore medical attitudes toward some patient rights and some legal aspects involving medical practice in Mexico.


METHODS
Prospective, transversal and nonrandomized study using a multiple choice survey of 12 questions.


METHODS
An urban general hospital in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.


METHODS
Seventy five physicians at the beginning of a specialty medical residency.


METHODS
They covered four areas: the patient's right to decide, the medical attitude of benefit to the patient above all considerations, the patient's capacity to make decisions, and some legal aspects of medical practice.


RESULTS
34% of the physicians gave the patient the right to decide, 34% were opposed, and 32% referred it to a third person; 26% showed a benevolent attitude to the patient, 69% did not and 5% referred it; 73% recognized the patient's capacity of decision and 27% did not; only 40% knew about legal aspects of medical practice.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests an important lack of knowledge of the Mexican physicians in regard to patient rights and to legal aspects in medical practice.
López de la Peña
X A
XA
Unidad de Medicina Crítica, Hospital General de Zona No. 1 Dr. José Luis Avila Pardo, México.
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D008800:Mexico; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016312:Treatment Refusal
Actitud médica y conocimientos legales de algunos derechos del paciente.