Rights & Responsibilities of Patients

Without patients the health care industry would not exist. Patients receive in-patient and out-patient care, and they visit doctor's offices for check-ups, preventive care and health care to treat illnesses and conditions. Patients have the right to receive proactive health care and the responsibility to seek out health care needs for themselves and their family.

Planning Rights

• Patients have the right to plan medical care. This would include deciding what doctor they want to see for general health care needs, making plans when surgery is required or involvement in decisions regarding other hospitalized care. Patients should also be informed about services that will be provided and how the care plan will be initiated and carried out. This would include the outcome of health care plans, barriers the patient may face and any changes to the care plan. The patient has the right to change the plan of treatment if he sees fit.

Confidentiality Rights

• Patient rights require that the patient's personal, medical and treatment information to be kept confidential. The patient may allow medical professionals to release some information to immediate family, like a spouse or children. However, the patient's rights regarding confidentiality in a doctor's office or hospital setting are covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)..

Right to Refuse Treatment

• After the patient has been well informed regarding a medical condition and possible treatment, the patient has the right to refuse medical treatment. He can refuse treatment on general principles, such as religious or personal beliefs, or he may refuse treatment because he is not comfortable with the method and measure of treatment. The patient can also voice any grievances over treatment.

Financial Responsibility

• Along with his rights, the patient must adhere to responsibilities. Patients are responsible for taking care of any financial obligations for treatment, doctor visits or hospital stays. In this way, the patient can continue treatment or visits knowing he has satisfied his financial obligation to the individual medical institution.

Participation Responsibility

• The patient should actively participate in medical treatment and care. This means participating in making decisions about medical affairs to the best of her ability. This includes adhering responsibly to admitting times and transfer of patient care. If advised, and the patient agrees, she would also participate in medical services that may be delivered.

Cooperation Responsibility

• The patient has the responsibility to cooperate with medical staff once agreement about medical care has been reached. Patients cooperate by providing accurate and complete information. They also cooperate by reporting any changes in their physical or financial situation. Cooperation of the patient would include keeping lines of communication open to the medical staff treating the patient. The patient must also treat medical staff with courtesy and respect as a sign of cooperating.