The World Patients Alliance (WPA) contributed the patient perspective to the World Medical Association session on the revision of the WMA Declaration of Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient. The session was held on 30 September 2026 during the 18th World Conference in Bioethics, Medical Ethics & Health Law in Porto, Portugal.
Participating remotely, WPA Chair Andrew Spiegel delivered a presentation titled “Position of the World Patients Alliance on the Declaration of Lisbon.” He outlined WPA’s position that the revised Declaration should preserve its core protections while ensuring that patient rights remain relevant, understandable and possible to exercise throughout the care journey.
Andrew emphasized that autonomy requires more than consent. Patients should be recognized as active partners, receive clear and understandable information about their options, benefits, harms, alternatives and uncertainties, and be supported to make voluntary decisions that reflect their will and preferences.
The presentation also addressed how patient rights should apply across modern healthcare settings. WPA highlighted the importance of coordinated care, access to usable health information, privacy, transparency, human oversight and meaningful control over how patient data are used. Barriers related to language, disability, location, income and digital access should also be addressed so that patients can exercise their rights equitably.
WPA further encouraged the WMA to involve diverse patients and patient organisations meaningfully throughout the revision process. The revised Declaration should use inclusive language, clarify responsibilities for upholding each right and provide accessible pathways for patients to raise concerns and receive a fair response.
For WPA, the revision should ensure that patient rights are not only stated as ethical principles but experienced in practice. It should recognize patients as partners in their care and in the decisions that shape healthcare systems.