How to file a complaint against your doctor in Netherlands

The short answer

Always start with a complaint to the complaints officer (klachtenfunctionaris) at the hospital, GP practice, or other healthcare institution where you were treated. This officer must respond to your complaint within six weeks under Dutch law. If you're not satisfied with their handling, you can file a disciplinary complaint (tuchtklacht) with the Regional Disciplinary Tribunal for Healthcare (Regionaal Tuchtcollege voor de Gezondheidszorg). A disciplinary complaint can lead to measures against the doctor, such as a warning or in serious cases a temporary or permanent professional ban. For financial damages, you can also start a separate civil procedure.

What does Dutch law say?

The Quality, Complaints and Disputes in Care Act (Wet kwaliteit, klachten en geschillen zorg - Wkkgz) regulates how complaints in healthcare must be handled in the Netherlands. Every healthcare institution must have a complaints officer and establish a complaints procedure. The Individual Healthcare Professions Act (Wet op de beroepen in de individuele gezondheidszorg - Wet BIG) governs disciplinary law for healthcare providers. This law determines that doctors must adhere to professional standards and that disciplinary tribunals can take measures for violations.

What should you watch out for?

Pay attention to deadlines: there's no legal deadline for complaints to the complaints officer under Dutch law, but do this as quickly as possible. For disciplinary complaints you have two years after the incident, but with ongoing situations this deadline can be longer. Collect all relevant documents such as medical records, correspondence and witness statements. Keep in mind that a disciplinary procedure doesn't provide financial compensation as an expat in the Netherlands - for that you need to start a separate civil procedure.

Example from practice

Mrs Jansen gets an infection after surgery because the surgeon didn't follow hygiene protocols in a Dutch hospital. She first files a complaint with the hospital's complaints officer, who acknowledges mistakes were made and offers apologies. Because Mrs Jansen feels the doctor has seriously failed, she also files a disciplinary complaint with the Regional Disciplinary Tribunal. The disciplinary tribunal gives the doctor a reprimand and requires additional training. For the extra medical costs and suffered harm, Mrs Jansen starts a separate civil procedure through her legal insurance.

What can you do?

Follow these steps to effectively file a complaint against your doctor in the Netherlands.