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Patients rights and responsibilities

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Patient rights

We recognize that all individuals have certain personal rights, and it is our policy to honor and protect those rights for all patients, in accordance with our mission and resources, and within the limits of the law.

As a patient, you have the right to:

  • Present requests, complaints or concerns and have them addressed without jeopardizing your care. You may express a complaint to any hospital employee or to any physician, and it will be passed along to the appropriate person. You may also speak to the Patient Representative or call the Administrator's office at extension 3500, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Receive considerate, respectful, kind and compassionate care, appropriate to your condition, in an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of your care, including participation in treatment decisions and effective management of pain.
  • Accept or refuse medical or surgical care, treatment and/or services, including forgoing or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment or withholding resuscitative services and participation in investigational studies or clinical trials.
  • Be informed of the medical consequences of refusing and accepting treatment so that you can make informed decisions about your care.
  • Have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
  • Be free from physical or chemical restraint or seclusion that is not medically necessary, and have restraints or seclusion used only when less restrictive interventions are ineffective.
  • Have an "advance directive" detailing your desires regarding medical care, including authorizing someone to make decisions on your behalf when appropriate and to have hospital staff comply with these directives.
  • Have a support person of your choosing and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
  • Have a support person of your choosing with you during the course of your stay.
  • Participation/representation in the consideration of ethical issues affecting your care, treatment or services.
  • Personal privacy and confidentiality of your medical information within the limits of the law.
  • Access information contained in your medical records within a reasonable time frame.
  • Know the identity of caregivers.
  • Effective communication with others inside and outside of the hospital.
  • Pastoral and other spiritual services.
  • Be transferred to another facility only after appropriate treatment has been given and appropriate arrangements have been made or at your request.
  • Receive care in a safe setting.
  • Be free from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation or harassment.
  • Access protective and advocacy services.
  • Expect that no restrictions will be placed on visitors and that you will not be denied visiting privileges based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability and ensure that all visitors enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with the patient's preference.
As a patient here, you also have certain responsibilities. Patients are responsible for their actions if they refuse treatment or do not follow their healthcare practitioner's instructions.

Patient responsibilities

As a patient here, you also have certain responsibilities, including the responsibility to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information to your physician or other caregivers about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalization, medications and other matters relating to your health.
  • Report perceived risks in your care and unexpected changes in your condition.
  • Ask questions when you do not understand your care, treatment and service or what you are expected to do.
  • Follow the care, treatment and service plan developed and express any concerns about your ability to follow the proposed care plan or course of care, treatment and services.
  • Accept the consequences of any decisions you make to refuse treatment or to not follow the care, treatment and service plan or healthcare practitioner's instructions.
  • Ensure that the financial obligations of your care are fulfilled promptly.
  • Follow applicable hospital rules and regulations.
  • Show the same respect and consideration of other patients and their property and the hospital's staff and property that you would expect to receive yourself.