Participation of patients in decisions about their health care

Among the various rights of patients, those relating to their participation in the most important decisions affecting their health and the information required to make these decisions have received growing attention in the last few years. In addition to the debates in the international literature, several important initiatives have been developed in distinct areas of the Spanish national health system, at least in their formal aspects. The present article aims to provide a brief overview on some of the aspects of the inalienable right -not responsibility- of patients to actively participate in decisions relating to their healthcare. Both the general development of aids to facilitate this participation and the most important shortfalls in knowledge of these aids, as well as their diffusion and effectiveness, are discussed.