100 euro fine for missed doctor's appointments: This is how you protect yourself!

100 euro fine for missed doctor's appointments: This is how you protect yourself!

The discussion about cancellation fees for missed medical appointments is gaining increasing attention. In particular, patients who do not attend an agreed appointment face the possibility of having to pay a cancellation fee. The amount of these fees can be up to 100 euros, depending on the respective doctor's practice and the type of treatment, as echo24.de reports.

As a rule, practices must clearly communicate to their patients what deadlines apply for a free cancellation. These deadlines are usually 24 or 48 hours. Appointment cancellations that are made sufficiently in advance are usually free of charge. In addition, many practices require that the cancellation be made in writing or by email and that a confirmation be received.

Legal basis and regulations

The legal basis for cancellation fees is not uniformly regulated. Many practices refer to Section 615 of the German Civil Code (BGB). The consumer advice center points out that the amount of the default fees is not set by law, but should be appropriate. In many cases, practices anchor these payment obligations in their general terms and conditions in order to create a legal basis for charging fees.

However, it should be noted that case law is often critical of such clauses. A ruling by the Berlin Regional Court in 2005, for example, declared a clause that requires 24 hours' notice of cancellation and a cancellation fee of 75 euros to be ineffective if the patient has no opportunity to relieve themselves in the event of a no-show through no fault of their own (verbraucherzentrale.de).

Practical implications

Despite the legal gray areas, the fact remains that patients who miss an appointment can expect to be asked to pay in certain cases. A gastroenterologist from Heilbronn explains that cancellation fees are often only charged for brazen behavior. Nevertheless, many practices show goodwill in practice and do not take further action against patients who do not pay despite knowing the rules.

It is therefore essential for patients to find out about the regulations of their respective doctor's practice and to cancel appointments in a timely manner in order to avoid unwanted costs. It turns out that an open and transparent dialogue between patients and doctors is important in order to avoid misunderstandings and possible legal conflicts.