(1) As a rule, the treating party and the patient are to work together to implement the treatment.
(2) The treating party is obliged to explain to the patient in comprehensible terms at the beginning of the treatment, and where necessary in the course of the treatment, the entirety of all circumstances that are relevant to the treatment, in particular the diagnosis, the anticipated health development, the therapy and the measures to be taken in addition the therapy and subsequent to it. If circumstances are recognisable to the treating party which give rise to the presumption of malpractice, they are to inform the patient thereof upon the patient making inquiries or in order to avert health hazards. If the treating party or one of their relatives designated in section 52 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Strafprozessordnung) has committed malpractice, then the information in accordance with sentence 2 may be used for evidential purposes in criminal proceedings or proceedings for an administrative fine pursued against the treating party or against a member of their family only with the consent of the treating party.
(3) If the treating party knows that the complete assumption of the treatment costs by a third party is not secured, or if sufficient indications of this emerge under the circumstances, they must inform the patient in text form prior to commencing the treatment of the likely costs of the treatment. More extensive requirements as to form stipulated in other provisions remain unaffected.
(4) The patient need not be provided with information where, as an exception, this may be dispensed with because of special circumstances, in particular if the treatment cannot be postponed or the patient expressly has waived being informed.