The patient’s right to contact with companion animals as an element of the humanization of medical care

The patient’s right to contact with companion animals is an essential element of the humanization of medical care. The bond between humans and animals—especially during illness, loneliness, and hospitalization—has therapeutic, emotional, and spiritual significance. Based on scientific evi­dence from animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted interventions, the article highlights their impact on reducing stress, improving mood, lowering blood pressure, and increasing patients’ motivation for treatment. Unconditional restrictions on patient–animal contact may violate human rights protected by legal acts, including the Polish Patient Rights Act and the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. At the same time, there are no legal provisions prohibiting animal visits in healthcare facilities; existing limitations stem mainly from hospitals’ internal regulations. A distinction should be made between animal-assisted therapy and personal pet visits. The author cites SHEA guidelines indicating that the epidemiological risk associated with personal animal visits is low. In response to the existing gap, the Patient’s Charter of Rights to Contact with Companion Animals has been proposed, defining rights to emotional bonds, equality in visits, farewells, safety, and respect for dignity. The introduction of the Charter aims to promote a holistic, empathetic approach to medical care that integrates the patient’s emotional and spiritual dimensions and fosters social sensitivity to patients’ rights to connection, relationship, and closeness. Implementing the Charter’s principles requires public awareness, professional knowledge, and interdisciplinary collaboration, representing a step toward the fuller humanization of medicine.