Behandelingsgericht

Behandelingsgericht is a Dutch term meaning "treatment-oriented." It denotes an approach in health care where clinical decisions and care planning are guided by applying specific therapeutic interventions with the aim of improving health outcomes for the patient. In a behandelingsgericht framework, decisions about tests, medicines, therapies, and procedures are evaluated for their expected treatment effect, safety, and cost-effectiveness, with a focus on delivering active treatment rather than solely on diagnosis or prevention.

In practice, the term is used in care pathways, clinical guidelines, and reimbursement discussions to indicate when a treatment-based approach is appropriate and beneficial for a patient. It is applied across medical specialties, including medicine, psychiatry, and rehabilitation, and is often contrasted with other orientations such as prevention-oriented, palliative, or patient-centered approaches that emphasize goals, preferences, or quality of life.

Advantages of a behandelingsgericht approach include clarity in decision-making, focus on proven interventions, and alignment of care with measurable health outcomes. However, critics warn that an exclusive emphasis on treatment can lead to overtreatment, neglect of patient values, and insufficient consideration of non-treatment options or supportive care. Proponents typically advocate balancing treatment decisions with shared decision-making, informed consent, and ongoing evaluation of outcomes.