Patient Rights

The basic rights of human beings for independence of expression, decision, action, and concern for personal dignity and human relationships are always of great importance. During sickness, however, their presence or absence becomes vital, deciding factors in survival and recovery. Thus, it becomes a prime responsibility for hospitals to assure these rights are preserved for their patients.

A summation of these rights is below:

1. As a patient, you have the right to access to care.
2. As a patient, you have the right to care that is considerate and respectful of his or her personal values and beliefs.
3. As a patient, you have the right to privacy and confidentiality.
4. As a patient, you have the right to refusal of treatment.
5. As a patient, you have the right to a representative decision maker.
6. As a patient, you have the right to transfer and continuity of care.
7. As a patient, you have the right to explanation of hospital charges.
8. As a patient, you have the right to know about hospital rules and regulations.
9. As a patient, you have the right to information about the complaint procedure and conflict resolution.
10. As a patient, you have the right to information about ethical issues.
11. As a patient, you have the right to personal safety, security, and protective services.
12. As a patient, you have the right to identity of those providing services to you.
13. As a patient, or family member when appropriate, you have the right to be informed about and participate in decisions regarding all aspects of the patient’s care.
14. As a patient, you have the right to communication.
15. As a patient, you have the right to informed consent.
16. As a patient, you have the right to consultation.
17. As a patient, you have the right to advance directives.
18. As a patient, you have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
19. As a patient, you have the right to freedom from restraints used for the management of behavior unless clinically required.
20. As a patient, you have the right to freedom from restraints used in the provision of acute medical and surgical care unless clinically required.
21. As a patient or family member, when appropriate, you have the right to be informed about the outcomes of care including un-anticipated outcomes.
22. As a patient, you have the right to pastoral care and other spiritual services.
23. As a patient, you have the right to be informed about and participate in investigational studies or clinical trials.