Your Rights As A Hospital Patient

Being hospitalized can be a very intimidating experience. Patients find themselves thrown into a foreign environment and often feel that they have very little or no control over what is happening to them.

Dealing with an illness is stressful for patients as well as family members. This stress is magnified by the busy and seemingly impersonal environment of the hospital. In this situation, patients often feel intimidated about voicing their concerns related to their care.

Patients have many rights and protections guaranteed under State and Federal law. Don’t feel that you must “do as you are told”. The following are some of the rights that every patient should be aware of:

~ All patients have an absolute right to an understandable explanation of their complete medical condition, recommended treatment, expected results, risks and reasonable medical alternatives. Should the treating physician conclude that this information would be detrimental to the patient's condition at the time, a family member/next of kin must be provided with the necessary information.

~ No patient’s question is a silly question. It is the doctor's obligation to help you fully understand all pertinent information and to make your own informed decisions based on this knowledge. You have the right to insist on clear explanations of all treatment, including any tests, procedures and medications. Patients have the right to play an active role in developing their plan of care. You should not hesitate to ask any and all healthcare providers what they are doing and/or giving and why.

~ If you find any healthcare discussion difficult to understand, do not be embarrassed to say so and ask to have it explained in a simpler way. It’s your body and you have a right to fully understand what is going on.

~ You have the right to be treated with respect and to have your privacy protected. The hospital staff must be sensitive to any cultural, racial, linguistic, religious, age or gender differences and must address any specific needs you may have.

~ You have the right to have your information treated confidentially. Information in your medical record may not be released without your approval, unless required by law. You have the right to inspect your medical record within ten days of your request to do so.

Never hesitate to ask what they are doing — and why!

BY LOUISE CURRAN R.N., J.D.

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