The article concerns the obligations which lie with medical subjects on account of the necessity to provide all patients with identifying signs. The analysis will also encompass the costs resulting from the introduction of the patient identification system. The obligation of providing the sick with identifying signs was introduced by The Act of 15 April 2011 on medical activity [1]. This requirement results from the need to provide an effective patient identification and the respect for the protection of personal details [2]. The aim of the requirements introduced was also to decrease the risk of a possible mistake by providing an effective patient identification before administering medicine or performing surgery. An effective and quick patient identification is also extremely vital in the case of collapsing or losing consciousness outside the ward in which the patient is treated.

Key words: identifying signs, patient identification system.