Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities


THE PATIENT, OR AN APPROPRIATE PERSON IN HIS/HER BEHALF, HAS THE RIGHT TO:


1.Considerate and respectful care, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability.
2. Obtain from his/her physician complete current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand.
3. Know, by name, the physician responsible for coordinating his/her care.
4. Receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment.

     This should include: (except in emergencies)
     A. Medically significant risks involved.
     B. Probable duration of incapacitation.
     C. Name of the person responsible for the procedures and/or treatment.

5. Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law.
6. Be informed of the medical consequences of his/her action.
7. Every consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his/her care must have the permission of the patient to be present.
8. Expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care should be treated as confidential.
9. Expect that within its capacity the hospital must make reasonable response to the request of a patient for services. The hospital must provide evaluation service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case.
10. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for an alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient.
11. Obtain information as to any relationship of his/her hospital to other healthcare and education institutions in so far as his/hr care is concerned.
12. Obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationships among individuals (by name) who are treating him/her.
13. The right to explanation and education of any research projects that he/she may be asked to participate in as a patient at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.
14. Refuse to participate in research projects.
15. Expect reasonable continuity of care.
16. Know in advance what appointment times, and physicians are available and where.
17. Expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed by his/her physicians, or a delegate of the physician, of his/her continuing health care requirements following discharge.
18. Examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of source of payment.
19. Adequate pain management, including the right to information about pain relief options from their physicians and nurses and participation in the process of measuring their pain.
20. To expect that decisions made regarding the initial and ongoing care, treatment and services rendered by the hospital are based on the identified care, treatment and service needs of the patient and are in no way based on the patient's ability to pay, any financial incentives, or re-imbursement to providers, independent practitioners or contracted providers.
21. Expect that decisions made regarding the care, treatment and services provided are based on the patient's identified needs and with the patient and/or families' involvement in these decisions.
22. Expect that the hospital will provide mail and telephone services as appropriate to their needs, and the care, treatment and services provided.
23. Expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism/process to provide for the safety and security of patients and their property.


No catalog of rights can guarantee a patient the kind of treatment he/she has the right to expect. A hospital has many functions to perform, including the prevention and treatment of disease, the education of both health professionals and patients, and the conduct of clinical research. All these activities must be conducted with an overriding concern for the patient, and above all, the recognition of a patient's dignity. Sucess in achieving this recognition assures success in the defense of the rights of the patient.

Revised 11-12-2013
For information on your rights please ask an admission clerk, office personnel, nursing manager, nurse, or social services department.

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