What are Patient Rights?

Patient rights are those basic rules of conduct between patients and medical caregivers as well as the people that support them. Patient rights is general statement adopted by most healthcare professionals, covering such matters as access to care, patient dignity, confidentiality, and consent to treatment.

Irrespective of what definition used, most patients and doctors are finding that many of the details of patient rights have changed and are continuing to change over time.

Physicians can best contribute to a mutually respectful alliance with patients by serving as their patients’ advocates and by respecting patients’ rights.

These include the right to:

• Receive treatment without discrimination as to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
• Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your health.
• Receive considerate and respectful care in clean and safe environment free of unnecessary restraints.
• Receive emergency care if needed
• Be informed of the name and position of the doctor who will be in charge of your care in the hospital.
• A non-smoking room.
• Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
• Receive all the information that you need to give informed consent for any proposed procedure or treatment. This information shall include the possible risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment.
• Refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.
• Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors.