Patient’s Rights

These rights can be exercised on the patient’s behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decision maker if the patient lacks decision- making capacity is legally incompetent or is a minor.

1. Right to Quality Care. The patient has the right to care that is timely, considerate, and respectful and in accordance with reasonably expected professional standards of care.
2. Right to Information. The patient has the right to relevant, current, and understandable information regarding their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This information can be obtained from their physicians and other direct caregivers. The patient also has the right to information about the name and qualifications of their treating doctors, nurses and others involved in their care.
3. Right to Discuss Procedures and Treatment. The patient has the right to discuss and ask questions relating to all procedures and treatment, as well as the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, the medically reasonable alternatives, and their accompanying risks and benefits.
4. Right to Know the Cost of Treatment. The patient has the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are reasonably known.
5. Right to Consent. The patient has the right to give or withhold their consent for any proposed treatment.
6. Right to Make Decisions. The patient has the right to be involved in the decisions regarding their line of care, prior to and during the treatment, unless the need for treatment is urgent, and the patient lacks the capacity to make the decision. Patients with an altered mental status because of alcohol, drugs, and brain injury, medical or psychiatric illness may not be able to make a competent decision; then the patient may need to have a person legally appointed to make medical decisions. The patient also has the right to an advance directive (such as living will, health care proxy, or durable power of attorney for health care), which states their wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of mental incompetency or an inability to communicate.
7. Right to Refuse Treatment. The patient has the right to refuse the recommended line of treatment, and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. Should the patient refuse the recommended line of treatment, the patient is still entitled to appropriate care and services that the hospital provides, to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.
8. Right to Confidentiality. The patient has the right to expect that all healthcare information will be treated as confidential by the hospital. Information regarding the patient’s health and treatment can only be disclosed with the consent of the patient. However, confidentiality can be subject to certain exceptions because of legal, ethical, and social considerations, such as cases of suspected abuse, public health hazards and when patients are at risk of harming themselves or others.
9. Right to Privacy. The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy. Case discussions, consultations, examinations, investigative procedures, and treatment are all conducted in a manner to protect the privacy of the patient.
10. Right to Review Records. The patient has a right to review the records pertaining to their medical care at the hospital and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when this is restricted by law.
11. Right to Continuity of Care. The patient has the right to expect that their physician will cooperate in coordinating medically indicated care with other health care professionals, and that the physician will not discontinue treating them when further treatment is medically indicated without giving them sufficient notice and reasonable assistance in making alternative arrangements for their care. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for, risk, benefits, and alternatives to such a transfer.
    • Random patient surveys are conducted in relation to respectful care and personal dignity.
    • All matters are treated with privacy and confidentiality related to the patient’s medical history.
    • Patients shall be informed of the identity and professional status of persons providing their care.
    • Every member of staff, temporary staff, and work study student of the hospital always wears an identification badge.
    • The health worker responsible for coordinating a patient’s care ensures a timely response for information with respect to the patient’s diagnosis, current prognosis, treatment of procedures to be undertaken.