Hoitovelvoitteisiin

Hoitovelvoitteisiin is a Finnish term referring to the duties to provide care and welfare to another person. In Finnish health care and social services, hoitovelvoite denotes the obligation to ensure appropriate, safe, and continuous care for individuals who need assistance, protection, or treatment. The concept encompasses the responsibilities of professionals, care institutions, guardians, and, in certain contexts, family members or municipalities under public service arrangements.

The scope of hoitovelvoite includes basic daily care, medical treatment, monitoring and assessment of needs, planning and coordination of services, and safeguarding the person’s safety and dignity. It also covers ensuring continuity of care, timely communication with the person and their family, and reporting concerns such as abuse or neglect. The obligations arise from professional ethics, statutory duties, and contractual or guardianship arrangements, and they may be exercised in various settings, including hospitals, care homes, home care, and municipal welfare services.

Who bears the obligation can vary by context. Health care professionals and care staff have professional duties to adhere to care plans and standards; institutions have organizational responsibilities; guardians or family members may have care duties under guardianship or family law; municipalities may bear statutory duties to arrange necessary services. The enforcement of hoitovelvoitteet may involve professional discipline, civil liability, or social and administrative remedies if care is negligent or deficient.

In practice, hoitovelvoitteisiin highlights the normative expectation that those in care relationships actively ensure the welfare and safety of dependent individuals, within the limits of resources and professional judgment.