Introduction and objective of the study:
Respecting a patient’s right to medical information is the physician’s responsibility and is a prerequisite for a proper relationship between medical professionals and patients, which should be based on respect for the subjectivity of the patient and the right to make informed, autonomous decisions. The objective of the study, therefore, is to focus attention on the role and importance of proper patient-doctor communication (with particular emphasis on the hearing-impaired patient), which is refl ected, among others, by respecting a patient’s rights to medical information and the respect for the patient’s autonomy.

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
Physician’s respect for a patient, expressed among others, by facilitating the conscious participation of the patient in medical decision-making, provides the patient with a sense of security which, in turn, simplifi es collaboration and effective motivating of the patient to active participation in the treatment process. Specifi c problems with regard to respecting the patient’s right to information concern patients suff ering from hearing impairments. Deaf patients face enormous diffi culties in dealing with health professionals in the majority of Polish medical facilities, due to the communication barrier that hinders free communication.

Conclusion:
The issue of transmitting medical information to patients and receiving informed consent for medical interventions from them is an extremely diffi cult aspect of the doctor-patient relationship, each time requiring delicacy, tact and subtlety in the conduct of medical professionals. Communication problems occurring between a health worker and a deaf patient require specifi c solutions at the organizational level (which already operate successfully in other countries) to ensure deaf patients the freedom to use medical care.