Patient Rights and Responsibilities

You Have a right to:

• Respectful Care: All hospital staff should treat you with respect and courtesy. Your race, religion, sex, or ability to pay will not affect the care you receive.
• Complete Information: Your doctor must give you complete and current information about your diagnosis, treatment, and outlook for recovery in words that you can understand. If your doctor feels that you should not be given this information directly, it will be shared with an appropriate person who is close to you. You have the right to know the name of the doctor in charge of your care.
• Informed Consent: Your doctor must give you information about any procedures or treatments before they are performed so that you understand what will happen and the risks involved.
• You also have the right to know about other treatment options and side effects, as well as the consequences of no treatment.
• Once the procedure or treatment has been explained and you understand and agree to it, then you must give your written permission. This is called informed consent.
• Refuse Treatment: You have the right to refuse treatment. Your doctor must explain the possible consequences of refusing.
• Pain Management: Your nurse will be continually assessing your pain and you will receive the best level of pain relief that can safely be provided. You will be given information on pain management.
• Advance Directive: You have the right to develop written instructions about your choices of treatment in case you should become incapacitated.
• Privacy: All parts of your medical care, examination, and treatment will be kept private. Any health professional not directly involved in your care must have your permission to be present.
• Confidentiality: All communication and medical records related to your care must be kept confidential.
• Receive Care: The hospital must make every attempt to provide you with care based on the seriousness of your illness and the hospital’s ability to treat you. You may transfer to another facility if your doctor decides you are able to do so and has explained to you the reason for, and other alternatives to, the transfer.
• Professional Relationships: You have the right to information about relationships between your hospital and other institutions as far as your care is concerned. You have the same right to know about the professional relationships among the people who are caring for you.
• Research Treatment: You have the right to know about any research or experimental treatment that your doctor may make available to you. You may also refuse to participate in experimental care if you choose.
• Continuity of Care: You can expect that your doctor will tell you about your needs for follow-up care after you leave the hospital. You have the right to know what appointment times and doctors are available and where they are located.
• Information About Your Bill: You have the right to look at and receive an explanation of your bill. This should include how much your insurance company has been billed and how much has been paid.
• Hospital Rules: You have the right to information about hospital rules and regulations that apply to your conduct as a patient.

You Have a responsibility to:

• Give Correct and Full Information: You are responsible for telling those caring for you everything you can about your symptoms, medications, previous illnesses, etc. You are also expected to tell your health care providers about any changes in your condition and whether you understand your plan of care.
• Follow Your Treatment Plan: You are responsible for following the instructions of your health care professionals. You should also keep all appointments and notify the doctor or hospital if you are unable to do so.
• Pain Management: You are responsible for telling your physician and nurse when you are having pain and to discuss pain relief options. You should discuss any concerns you may have about your pain and pain medications.
• Responsibility for Your Actions: You are responsible for your own actions if you refuse treatment or don’t follow your doctor’s instructions.
• Payment of Bills: You are responsible for paying your hospital bill as promptly as possible.
• Follow Hospital Rules: You should follow all hospital rules and regulations, as they have been made with your safety and well-being in mind.
• Consideration of Others: Consider the rights of others in the hospital; control noise and the number of visitors you have. Respect the property of others and of the hospital staff.