Hoitovelvoite

Hoitovelvoite is a Finnish term describing a duty or obligation to provide care for another person who cannot fully care for themselves. The word combines hoito (care) with velvoite (obligation) and is used in legal, ethical, and administrative contexts to refer to duties arising from relationships or professional responsibilities. The concept aligns with the general idea of a duty of care, though its exact meaning can vary in different laws and agreements.

Hoitovelvoite covers a range of activities aimed at safeguarding the dependent person’s welfare and safety. It can include physical care, daily assistance, supervision, protection from harm, arranging medical treatment, and ensuring reliable support. The obligation may be personal—such as a parent or spouse caring for a dependent family member—or professional, as in the responsibilities of health care providers toward a patient.

Contexts: In family and guardianship matters, parents and guardians typically have a hoitovelvoite toward those under their care. In health care, professionals and institutions may bear a hoitovelvoite to provide appropriate treatment and to act in the patient’s best interests. In social services, municipalities and other authorities may have a responsibility to organize and finance care for individuals who cannot manage independently.

Notes: The precise scope and enforceability of hoitovelvoite depend on statute, contract, and context. It is sometimes discussed alongside related concepts such as hoitovelvollisuus (duty of care) to describe similar or overlapping obligations.