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Your Rights as a Hospital Patient
We consider you a partner in your hospital care. When you
are well-informed, participate in treatment decisions, and
communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals,
you help make your care as effective as possible. This hospital
encourages respect for the personal preferences and values
of each individual.
While you are a patient in the hospital, your rights include
the following:
• You have the right to considerate, safe, and respectful
care.
• You have the right to be well-informed about your
illness, possible treatments and likely outcome and to discuss
this information with your doctor. You have the right to know
the names and roles of people treating you.
• You have the right to consent to or refuse a treatment,
as permitted by law, throughout your hospital stay. If you
refuse a recommended treatment, you will receive other needed
and available care.
• You have the right to have an advance directive, such
as a living will or health care proxy. These documents express
your choices about your future care or name someone to decide
if you cannot speak for yourself. If you have a written advance
directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your
family, and your doctor.
• You have the right to privacy. The hospital, your
doctor, and others caring for you will protect your privacy
as much as possible.
• You have the right to information about pain and pain
relief measures and to know that pain relief is an important
part of your care.
• You have the right to expect that treatment records
are confidential unless you have given permission to release
information or reporting is required or permitted by law. When
the hospital releases records to others, such as insurers,
it emphasizes that the records are confidential.
• You have the right to review your medical records
and to have the information explained, except when restricted
by law.
• You have the right to expect that the hospital will
give you necessary health services to the best of its ability.
Treatment, referral, or transfer may be recommended. If transfer
is recommended or requested, you will be informed of risks,
benefits, and alternatives. You will not be transferred until
the other institution agrees to accept you.
• You have the right to know if this hospital has relationships
with outside parties that may influence your treatment and
care. These relationships may be with educational institutions,
other health care providers, or insurers.
• You have the right to consent or decline to take part
in research affecting your care. If you choose not to take
part, you will receive the most effective care the hospital
otherwise provides.
• You have the right to be told of realistic care alternatives
when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
• You have the right to know about hospital rules that
affect you and your treatment and about charges and payment
methods. You have the right to know about hospital resources,
such as patient representatives or ethics committees, that
can help you resolve problems, grievances and questions about
your hospital stay and care.
You have responsibilities as a patient. You are responsible
for providing information about your health, including past
illnesses, hospital stays, and use of medicine. You are responsible
for asking questions when you do not understand information
or instructions. If you believe you can’t follow through
with your treatment, you are responsible for telling your
doctor. You have the responsibility to report pain and participate
in your pain management plan.
This hospital works to provide care efficiently and fairly
to all patients and the community. You and your visitors
are responsible for being considerate of the needs of other
patients, staff, and the hospital. You are responsible for
providing information for insurance and for working with
the hospital to arrange payment, when needed.
Your health depends not just on your hospital care but,
in the long term, on the decisions you make in your daily
life. You are responsible for recognizing the effect of life-style
on your personal health.
A hospital serves many purposes. Hospitals work to improve
people’s health; treat people with injury and disease;
educate doctors, health professionals, patients, and community
members; and improve understanding of health and disease.
In carrying out these activities, this institution works
to respect your values and dignity.
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