Medical Awareness
Patient's Bill of Right
- Patient Bill of Rights is a document that provides patients with information on how they reasonably expect to be treated during the course of their hospital stay. They simply provide goals and expectations for patient care.
- Doctors and nurses have the obligation to provide quality care in accordance with prevailing standards. They are to involve their patients in the decision-making process. If Medical Practitioners fail to provide the minimum standard of care or fail to obtain a patient’s informed consent before taking a specific course of action and if the negligence harms the patient, this may constitute medical malpractice or criminal medical negligence and can be subject of lawsuits.
Patient have the right to:-
- Be treated with respect, regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, disability, economic circumstances or allegations of crimes..
- Relevant information in a language and manner the patient understands. Information made available to patients shall include diagnosis, testing, treatment to be used, the risk of treatment, side effects of medication and the cost medical care.
- Receive urgent, immediate and sufficient interventions and care in the event of emergency.
- Know health care team and right to develop a collaborative plan to prevent recurrence of medical problems.
- Decline care, choose or change Health Care Provider and shall take responsibility for what happens if planned treatment is rejected.
- Decline or consent to participation in medical research, experimental procedures or clinical trials
- Be treated in clean, safe and secure healthcare environment.
- Privacy and confidentiality of medical records
- Timely access to detailed and accurate medical records and available service.
- Transparent billing and full disclosure of any costs, including recommended treatment plans.
Patient have responsibility to:-
- Give correct and complete information about current symptoms, including pain and medication
- Give information about medical and health history
- Request information about range of services available including the identity, skills and credentials of professionals and care givers.
- Ask questions if treatment being given or planned treatment by a Health Provider is not understood or part to be played in the plan is not understood
- Follow recommended treatment plan agreed to by Health Provider
- Report dissatisfaction through appropriate channel provided by the Health Provider. Provide sufficient details of dissatisfaction. If dissatisfied with outcomes, report to appropriate regulatory authority.
- Keep appointments or notify Health Providers within reasonable time frame if there is a need to cancel visit
- Follow health facility rules regarding smoking, noise and use of electrical and electronic equipment as well as limit the use of mobile devises within health facility.
- Pay for care including emergency treatment
- Treat service provider staff with courtesy and respect, free from discrimination and harassment.
- Comply with directives, instructions and advice of attending professionals
- Comply with operational rules and regulations of the facility for the safety and security of all.
- Respect the rights of other patients.
Healthcare Provider have the responsibility to:-
- Communicate clearly with patient, including providing translation in the case of language barrier, or adaptation in the case of other disabilities
- Inform patient about services that are available at the facility and eligibility based on health insurance or out-of-pocket cost
- Inform patient whether proposed treatment or procedure is experimental or part of on-going research
- Answer questions about proposed treatment or procedures. Provide information about potential risks, alternative treatment and procedures.
- Treat patient’s human remains and tissue samples with care, consideration and dignity without prejudice to gender, religion, race, and ethnicity.
- Keep medical records of patients except when disclosure is by operation of Law or in the interest of public health
- In the event of an emergency, provide immediate and sufficient intervention and care. Provider has a right to fees and should use legal means to recover same.
- Maintain records of personnel’s current certificates and licenses to practice.