Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
This information is taken directly from the Health Care Quality site: http://www.consumer.gov/qualityhealth/rights.htm , which has much more information on each of the rights and responsibilities.
Patient Rights
The seven components of the Patient’s Bill of rights are:
- information disclosure,
- choice of providers and plans,
- access to emergency services,
- participation in treatment decisions,
- respect and nondiscrimination,
- confidentiality of health information, and
- file complaints and appeals.
Information Disclosure: You have the right to receive accurate and easily understood information about your health plan, health care professionals, and health care facilities. If you speak another language, have a physical or mental disability, or just don’t understand something, assistance will be provided so you can make informed health care decisions.
Choice of Providers and Plans: You have the right to a choice of health care providers that is sufficient to provide you with access to appropriate high-quality health care.
Access to Emergency Services: If you have severe pain, an injury, or sudden illness that convinces you that your health is in serious jeopardy, you have the right to receive screening and stabilization emergency services whenever and wherever needed, without prior authorization or financial penalty.
Participation in Treatment Decisions: You have the right to know all your treatment options and to participate in decisions about your care. Parents, guardians, family members, or other individuals that you designate can represent you if you cannot make your own decisions.
Respect and Nondiscrimination: You have a right to considerate, respectful and nondiscriminatory care from your doctors, health plan representatives, and other health care providers.
Confidentiality of Health Information: You have the right to talk in confidence with health care providers and to have your health care information protected. You also have the right to review and copy your own medical record and request that your physician amend your record if it is not accurate, relevant, or complete.
Complaints and Appeals: You have the right to a fair, fast, and objective review of any compliant you have against your health plan, doctors, hospitals or other health care personnel. This includes complaints about waiting times, operating hours, the conduct of health care personnel, and the adequacy of health care facilities.
Patient Responsibilities
Along with patient rights comes patient responsibilities. This list includes:
 | Responsibility for developing and maintaining healthy habits, such as exercising, not smoking, eating a health diets, getting regular checkups. |
| Become involved with your healthcare provider in making health care decisions, developing, and carrying out treatment plans you agree on. |
| Tell the healthcare provider information that applies to your situation. |
| Communicate your needs and wants to the healthcare provider. |
| Use the appropriate complaint and appeal process to deal with concerns and questions. |
| Avoid knowingly spreading disease - keep immunizations current. |
| Know that medical care has risks and limits and that healthcare providers have human downfalls. |
| Be aware that healthcare providers must be efficient and provide equal care to other persons. |
| Know what your healthcare plan covers, does not cover, any limits or exclusions, referral rules, and how to appeal decisions they make. |
| Respect other patients and all healthcare workers. |
| Try in good-faith to meet all your financial obligations. |
| Know and follow the procedures of your health plan, health care providers, and Government health benefit programs. |
| Report fraud and any wrongdoing to appropriate agency or the legal authorities. |
