Professional rules · Updated October 2026

Websites for doctors: what professional law allows

Draft. This page has not been editorially reviewed yet. The legal review is still pending.

You run a practice as a contracted doctor, a Wahlarzt (non-contracted doctor) or in a group practice and want to know what can go on your website? The short answer: your own website is expressly allowed. But the content must be objective and true and must not come across as sensationalist. This is governed by § 53 Ärztegesetz 1998 (Physicians Act) and the regulation “Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014” (Doctors and the Public 2014) of the Österreichische Ärztekammer (Austrian Medical Chamber). The limit the law leaves open matters too: what exactly counts as “unobjective” or “pushy” depends on the individual case. On this page you will find what you may and may not show, how to state titles and Facharzt (specialist) designations correctly, what applies to patient photos, reviews and before-and-after pictures, how to handle Wahlarzt fees and what your Impressum (legal notice) needs under § 5 ECG. Every statement is backed by the section and the source. This page is not a substitute for legal advice. In borderline cases, ask your regional Ärztekammer (medical chamber) before the site goes live.

A blue stethoscope lies on a white table next to an open laptop
Photo: Negative Space / StockSnap, CC0 1.0

As a doctor, you may run your own website: the ÖÄK (Austrian Medical Chamber) regulation “Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014“ (Doctors and the Public 2014) expressly allows this in § 4 Z 6. The limit is § 53 Abs. 1 Ärztegesetz 1998 (Physicians Act): no information that is unobjective, untrue or damaging to the standing of the profession. The law does not say exactly what “unobjective“ or “sensationalist“ means in a given case. If in doubt, ask your regional Ärztekammer (medical chamber) before the site goes live. For aesthetic treatments, § 8 ÄsthOpG (Aesthetic Treatments and Operations Act) adds further, stricter rules.

Allowed and not allowed

What may go on the website

  • Running your own website or taking part in someone else’s website (§ 4 Z 6 VO Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014).
  • Informing people about the fields you work in that you have mastered through your training and further education (§ 4 Z 1 VO).
  • Stating your name and the titles permitted under the Ärztegesetz (Physicians Act), such as the professional title from the list of doctors (§ 5 Abs. 2 VO, § 43 ÄrzteG 1998).
  • Listing true additions such as your current position, an additional speciality (Additivfach) or ÖÄK diplomas (§ 43 Abs. 4 ÄrzteG 1998).
  • Inviting your own patients to check-ups, follow-up examinations or vaccinations, for example with a recall system (§ 4 Z 2 VO).
  • Informing people about a practice succession and about your cooperation with other health professions (§ 4 Z 3 and Z 4 VO).
  • Giving objective and true information about medicines, medical aids and medical devices, as far as this is part of your work as a doctor (§ 3 Satz 2 VO).
  • Showing patients’ names or pictures if they have given you their consent (§ 5 Abs. 4 VO).

What is not allowed

  • Unobjective information, meaning statements that contradict scientific knowledge or medical experience (§ 53 Abs. 1 ÄrzteG 1998, § 2 Abs. 1 VO).
  • Untrue information, meaning anything that does not match the facts (§ 2 Abs. 2 VO).
  • Disparaging remarks about other doctors, their work or their methods (§ 2 Abs. 3 Z 1 VO).
  • Claiming an exclusivity that does not exist, such as “the only practice in the region“ when that is not true (§ 2 Abs. 3 Z 2 VO).
  • Pushy or sensationalist self-promotion of yourself or your services (§ 2 Abs. 3 Z 3 VO).
  • Advertising medicines, medical aids, medical devices or their manufacturers and distributors (§ 3 Satz 1 VO).
  • Individual diagnoses or treatment instructions that you give in the media on request (§ 5 Abs. 3 VO).
  • Titles or designations that suggest a qualification you do not have (§ 43 Abs. 3 ÄrzteG 1998).
  • Giving or accepting payments for referring patients, including via portals or partners (§ 53 Abs. 2 and 3 ÄrzteG 1998).
  • For aesthetic treatments: advertising particularly low prices, free consultations, prize draws or treatments for minors (§ 8 Abs. 2 ÄsthOpG).

The basic rule: objective, true, not sensationalist

§ 53 Abs. 1 Ärztegesetz 1998 (Physicians Act) prohibits any unobjective or untrue information connected with your profession, and any information that damages the standing of the profession. Under § 53 Abs. 3, the ban also applies to group practices and to other natural and legal persons.

The Österreichische Ärztekammer (ÖÄK, Austrian Medical Chamber) has set this out in more detail in its regulation “Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014“ (Doctors and the Public 2014). The current version includes the amendments of 15 December 2015 and 14 December 2018. Medical information is unobjective if it contradicts scientific knowledge or medical experience. It is untrue if it does not match the facts.

The regulation does not define exactly where “pushy“ or “sensationalist“ begins. That depends on the individual case. If you are unsure, send your texts to your regional Ärztekammer (medical chamber) for review before going live.

Stating titles and professional designations correctly

You may only use “Facharzt“ (specialist), “Arzt für Allgemeinmedizin“ (general practitioner) and other professional titles if you meet the requirements (§ 43 Abs. 2 ÄrzteG 1998). Any designation that suggests a qualification you do not have is prohibited (§ 43 Abs. 3).

Besides officially conferred titles, § 43 Abs. 4 only allows certain true additions. Free wording such as “specialist in …“ is not provided for there. Whether such a term is allowed on your website is best clarified with your Ärztekammer (medical chamber).

  • Additions that refer to your current position, for example Oberarzt (senior physician)
  • Additions relating to training in an additional speciality (Additivfach)
  • Continuing education diplomas awarded or recognised by the ÖÄK
  • Austrian and foreign titles that could be confused with Austrian official or professional titles, only with approval from the competent federal minister
  • Notices under § 4 Abs. 9 ÄsthOpG

Patient photos, reviews and before-and-after pictures

You may only publish patients’ names or pictures if they have given you their consent (§ 5 Abs. 4 VO Arzt und Öffentlichkeit). Get this consent in writing so you can prove it.

The Ärztegesetz (Physicians Act) and the regulation contain no specific rule on patient reviews and testimonials. The general limits apply: a collection of hand-picked rave reviews can count as sensationalist self-promotion. A specialist article on infofueraerzte.at (2024) recommends checking content on platforms you run yourself for such statements. According to that article, you are not responsible for third-party review portals.

For aesthetic treatments and operations, § 8 ÄsthOpG (Aesthetic Treatments and Operations Act) also applies. Photos altered with image editing must be labelled as altered and not reflecting reality. Advertising with references to medical recommendations, particularly low prices, free consultations or prize draws is prohibited there.

Prices, Wahlarzt fees and health insurance contracts

The current regulation “Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014“ contains no express ban on stating fees. Prices must still be objective and true, though. If you list Wahlarzt (non-contracted doctor) fees on your website, keep them up to date and briefly explain how patients get reimbursed by their health insurer after the visit.

The ÖÄK’s Schilderordnung 2026 (signage rules) expressly allows the practice sign to mention Wahlarzt or private services and the health insurers you are contracted with (§ 4 Abs. 1 Z 8 and Z 9). This information belongs on your website too, because it is exactly what patients look for.

For aesthetic treatments, advertising particularly low prices is prohibited (§ 8 Abs. 2 Z 2 ÄsthOpG). Discounts or “special offer prices“ are off-limits there.

Impressum under § 5 ECG for medical practices

As a doctor, you are subject to professional rules. That is why § 5 Abs. 1 Z 6 ECG (E-Commerce Act) requires additional details in the Impressum (legal notice).

It is not clearly settled whether you also have to name a supervisory authority under § 5 Abs. 1 Z 5 ECG. Ask your Ärztekammer (medical chamber) about this.

  • Name and geographical address of the practice (§ 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 and 2 ECG)
  • Phone number and email address (Z 3)
  • Firmenbuch (company register) number and court, if any, for example for a group practice run as a GmbH (Z 4)
  • The chamber you belong to, i.e. the Ärztekammer of your federal state (Z 6)
  • Your professional title and the member state in which it was awarded (Z 6)
  • A reference to the Ärztegesetz 1998 and the ÖÄK regulations with a link, for example to ris.bka.gv.at and aerztekammer.at (Z 6)
  • The UID number (VAT ID), if any (Z 7)

Online booking, contact form and advice articles

Online appointment booking is not specifically regulated in the Ärztegesetz (Physicians Act) or the regulation. The Schilderordnung 2026 (signage rules) lists the website as a permitted detail on how to reach you (§ 4 Abs. 2 Z 1). Make sure the booking or contact form does not ask for findings or diagnoses you do not need for the appointment.

Advice articles on your website are allowed as long as they are objective. Individual diagnoses or treatment instructions given in the media on request, however, are prohibited (§ 5 Abs. 3 VO). So do not answer specific health questions publicly in comments or on social media; invite people to book an appointment instead.

You must take reasonable steps to ensure that third parties, such as the media, do not spread information about you that breaches professional rules (§ 5 Abs. 1 VO). So check what an agency or a portal writes about you.

Legal basis

Common mistakes

  • “Specialist“ or “expert“ in the page title, although § 43 Abs. 4 ÄrzteG 1998 does not provide for this addition.
  • A Facharzt (specialist) title for a field where recognition is still missing or still pending.
  • Patient photos or quotes with names without provable consent from the patients.
  • Edited before-and-after pictures for aesthetic treatments without a note that they have been altered.
  • Superlatives such as “the best practice in Graz“ or “unique method“ that cannot be backed up.
  • An Impressum without the Ärztekammer, without the professional title and without a reference to the Ärztegesetz 1998.
  • Banner ads for a specific medicine or manufacturer on the practice website.
  • Wahlarzt fees from years ago that are no longer correct.
  • A partner programme paying commission for every patient referred.

How Weblux does it

We write practice websites so that every statement can be checked: fields of work, titles from the list of doctors, health insurers or Wahlarzt status, opening hours. We leave out superlatives and promises of a cure. We build the Impressum with the chamber, professional title and a link to the Ärztegesetz. We flag texts where the limit is unclear so you can clarify them with your Ärztekammer beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Am I even allowed to have a website as a doctor?

Yes. § 4 Z 6 of the ÖÄK (Austrian Medical Chamber) regulation “Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014” expressly allows setting up your own homepage or taking part in someone else’s. The content must comply with the regulation, though: no unobjective or untrue information or information that damages the standing of the medical profession, no pushy or sensationalist self-promotion and no advertising for medicines or medical devices.

Can I list Wahlarzt fees on my website?

The current regulation “Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014” contains no express ban on prices. But like all information, prices must be objective and true. Keep them up to date and briefly explain how reimbursement from the health insurer works. For aesthetic treatments, § 8 Abs. 2 Z 2 ÄsthOpG (Aesthetic Treatments and Operations Act) prohibits advertising particularly low prices and free consultations.

Can I show patient photos or before-and-after pictures?

You may only publish patients’ pictures or names with the consent they have given you (§ 5 Abs. 4 of the regulation). Get it in writing. For aesthetic treatments, you must also label edited photos as altered and not reflecting reality (§ 8 Abs. 2 ÄsthOpG). The presentation must stay objective and must not be sensational.

Can I call myself a “specialist” on my website?

§ 43 Abs. 4 ÄrzteG 1998 lists the additions you may use alongside official titles: for example your current position, an additional speciality (Additivfach) or ÖÄK diplomas. “Specialist” is not on that list. Designations that suggest a qualification you do not have are prohibited under § 43 Abs. 3. Whether a particular term is allowed is best clarified with your Ärztekammer (medical chamber) in advance.

What needs to go in the Impressum of a practice website?

Besides name, address and contact details, § 5 Abs. 1 Z 6 ECG (E-Commerce Act) requires the following for regulated professions: the chamber you belong to, your professional title together with the country in which it was awarded, and a reference to the professional rules with access to them. For doctors, that means the regional Ärztekammer and the Ärztegesetz 1998 with a link, for example to ris.bka.gv.at. The Firmenbuch (company register) number and UID number (VAT ID) are added if you have them.

This page is not legal advice. What counts are the laws in force and the information from your chamber or your legal adviser.

Request a free draft for your business

No obligation, no appointment needed. Send me a few details and I'll build your first draft.

Get a free, no-obligation quote

Sources

  1. § 53 ÄrzteG 1998 – Werbebeschränkung und Provisionsverbot (RIS) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  2. § 43 ÄrzteG 1998 – Berufsbezeichnungen (RIS) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  3. ÖÄK-Verordnung „Arzt und Öffentlichkeit 2014“, konsolidierte Fassung (aerztekammer.at) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  4. § 8 ÄsthOpG, BGBl. I Nr. 80/2012 (RIS) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  5. ÖÄK Schilderordnung 2026, Kundmachung Nr. 04/2025 (aerztekammer.at) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  6. § 5 ECG – Allgemeine Informationspflichten (RIS) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  7. ÖÄK-Kundmachungen: Arzt und Öffentlichkeit, Fassungen 2014, 2015, 2018 (aerztekammer.at) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  8. § 8 ÄsthOpG, geltende Fassung (JUSLINE) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  9. Einfachere Kostenerstattung nach Wahlarztbesuch ab 01. Juli (Sozialministerium, 2024) (retrieved on 14 October 2026)
  10. Werben ohne Grenzen? Werbebeschränkungen für Ärzt:innen, infofueraerzte.at, 02.07.2024 (retrieved on 14 October 2026)

Last checked on 14 October 2026.

Get a free, no-obligation quote