'Lex Szarlatan' awaits president's decision amid public debate

Poland's 'Lex Szarlatan' bill, poised for presidential approval, introduces significant new powers for the Patient Ombudsman. The legislation, which passed parliament in late July or early August, would empower the ombudsman to issue public warnings and immediate temporary orders. These measures aim to halt practices that could endanger patients even before a full investigation concludes.

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I haven't seen a bill in a long time that has generated such interest, such activity from various patient environments, but also from business, for example.

The bill has stirred considerable debate, drawing attention from patient advocacy groups and the business sector. Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Presidential Chancellery, acknowledged the "emotions" surrounding the legislation, noting the "extraordinary interest" it has generated. He assured that the bill is undergoing a "very thorough formal and legal evaluation" involving multiple presidential offices and advisory bodies.

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sometimes mistakes happen among this wide administration of the president.

Bogucki addressed a recent meeting at the presidential office with Jerzy Zięba, a proponent of "unconventional medicine" who has faced legal issues for defamation and selling unapproved health products. Bogucki characterized the meeting, which was reportedly initiated by Zięba and others opposing the bill, as a simple handover of a petition. He stressed that this encounter, like meetings with parliamentary critics, would not sway the president's decision. The presidential office stated the meeting was solely for receiving the petition and had no bearing on the president's final choice.

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This meeting has no significance for the president's decision.