Patient’s Bill of Rights

The patient has the right to considerate, safe and respectful care.
The patient has the right to obtain from the physician complete current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be made available to an appropriate person on his/her behalf. He/she has the right to know, by name and professional status, the Physician responsible for co-ordinating his/her care.
The patient has the right to receive from his/her Physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the specific procedure and/or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to such information. The patient also has the right to know the name of the Physician responsible for the procedure and/or treatment.
The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of his/her action.
The patient has the right to every consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her own medical care programme. 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.
the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential.
The patient has the right to expect that within its capacity, a Hospital must make reasonable response to the request of an eligible patient for service.
The hospital must provide evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete information and an explanation concerning the needs for an alternative to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of his/her Hospital to other healthcare and educational institutions insofar as his/her care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationship among individuals, by name who are treating him/her.
The patient has the right to be advised if the Hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care. He/she has the right to know in advance what appointment times and Physicians are available and where. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed by his/her physician or a delegate of the physician of the patient’s continuing healthcare requirements following discharge.
The patient has the right to change his/her current treating Physician if he/she can provide acceptable reasons for wishing to do so.