Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Posted July 14, 2022 by Anusha ‐ 4 min read
There are a set of rights and responsibilities, duties under which an individuals seek and receive health care services. Because patients' rights are often not explicit, the composition of the set varies from country to country.
Patient Rights
A patient has the right to respectful care given by health care providers.
A patient has the right to know the names and the job description of his or her caregivers.
A patient has the right to privacy with respect to his or her medical condition. A patient’s care and treatment will be discussed only with those who need to know and not with any other people. Information about a patient will be released only with permission or consent from the patient or as required by law.
A patient has the right to request amendments to and obtain information on disclosures of his or her health information, in accordance with law and regulations.
A patient has the right to have emergency procedures done without unnecessary delay in treatment.
A patient has the right to good quality treatment and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
A patient has the right to make informed decisions regarding his or her treatment and has the right to include family members in the decisions.
A patient has the right to information from his or her doctor in order to make informed decisions about his or her treatment.
A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, treatment or procedures to the extent permitted by law after hearing the medical consequences of refusing the drug, treatment or procedure.
A patient has the right to take second opinion from other doctors.
A patient has the right to health care without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or source of payment.
A patient has the right to be given information in a manner that he or she can understand properly. A patient who does not speak English, or has hearing or speech impairedness, has the right to an interpreter, when possible.
A patient has the right not to be awakened by staff unless it is medically necessary.
A patient has the right to be free from needless duplication of medical and nursing procedures.
A patient has the right to be transferred to another facility only after proper arrangements have been made and the patient has been given complete information about the hospital’s obligations under law.
A patient has the right to a copy of his or her bills. A patient also has the right to have the bill explained clearly.
A patient has the right to request help in finding ways to pay his or her treatment bills.
A patient has the right to have protective services contacted when he or she or the patient’s family members are concerned about safety.
A patient has the right to be informed of his or her rights at the earliest in the course of his or her treatment.
A patient has the right to personal privacy and to receive care in a safe and secure environment.
A patient has the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment from any of the staff and clinician.
A patient has the right to be free from the use of seclusion and restraint, unless medically authorized by the clinician.
A patient has the right to postoperative care and other spiritual services.
A patient has the right to be involved in resolving dilemmas about treatment decisions.
A patient has the right to have his or her complaints about the treatment.
The patient has the right to seek appropriate pain management.
A patient has the right to be free from financial exploitation by the health care facility or the institution.
Children and Adolescents
The guardian of a child or adolescent patient has the right and responsibility to be involved in decisions about the treatment of the child. A child or adolescent has the right to have his or her wishes considered in the decision-making as limited by law.
A child or adolescent patient has the right to expect that care and the physical environment is appropriate to his or her age, and needs.
A child or adolescent patient whose treatment requires long absence from school has the right to education services. These services will be arranged with the local school system.
Patient Responsibilities
Patients are responsible for providing correct and complete information about their health condition and past medical history.
Patients are responsible for reporting changes in their general health condition, symptoms, or allergies to the responsible health care provider.
Patients are responsible for reporting if they do not understand the treatment plan.
Patients are responsible for following the recommended treatment plan they have agreed to, including instruction from nurses and other health personnel.
Patients are responsible for properly attending the given appointments.
Patients are responsible for treating others with due respect.
Patients are responsible for following rules regarding smoking, making noise, and use of electrical equipments.
Patients are responsible for the consequences of refusing the planned treatment.
Patients are responsible for paying for their treatments.
Patients are responsible for respecting the property and rights of other individuals.
Patients are responsible for assisting in the control of noise.