The intellectually disabled person as a patient

Abstract

The study explores the issues associated with functioning of a person with intellectual disability in the health care system. Some legislative solutions normalizing the rights of patients (also disabled ones) were discussed. Also, presented were the results of the research conducted among the medical staff of a hospital by applying the method of interview. Due attention was paid to medical staff’s knowledge concerning disability (particularly intellectual one). An image of the intellectually disabled patient as well as the ways of approaching patients with disability applied by the respondents were shown from the perspective of medical staff.