Patient Rights

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

A patient has the right to:

  • Participate in the development and implementation of his/her plan of care.
  • Make informed decisions regarding specific informed consent as well as consent for recording or filming made for purposes other than the identification, diagnosis, or treatment of the patient.
  • Receive adequate information about the person(s) responsible for the delivery of their care, treatment, or services.
  • Refuse care, treatment, and services in accordance with law and regulation.
  • Formulate advance directives and review and revise existing advance directives.
  • Be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment, and services, including unanticipated outcomes.
  • Effective communication and to receive information in a manner that he/she understands, including interpretive services.
  • Have his/her cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
  • Receive care in a safe setting (environmental safety and security, and safe patient care practices).
  • Personal dignity.
  • Pastoral and other spiritual services.
  • File a complaint with the state authority.
  • Confidentiality, privacy, and security.
  • Be free from mental, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and to access protective/advocacy services.
  • Pain management.
  • Privacy and confidentiality of protected health information.

As a patient, you are responsible for:

  • Providing complete information.
  • Participating in the development of, and following, your recommended care plan.
  • Reporting any changes in your condition.
  • Paying bills promptly.
  • Being considerate of others.
  • Respecting hospital property.
  • Asking questions.