Patient Rights

Patient rights refer to the set of entitlements and protections that patients have when receiving healthcare. These rights ensure that patients are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness, and that they have control over decisions affecting their health and medical care. Key patient rights include:

• Right to Information: Patients have the right to be fully informed about their illness, diagnosis, treatment options, risks, benefits, and costs in a way they can understand. This includes the right to ask questions and receive clear answers to make well-informed decisions about their care.

• Right to Informed Consent: Before undergoing any treatment, patients must give explicit consent after being informed of the potential risks and benefits. No treatment should be administered without this consent, except in emergencies.

• Right to Access Medical Records: Patients can access their medical records and investigation reports, usually upon request and payment of any applicable fees. They also have the right to obtain copies or summaries of their records and seek second opinions.

• Right to Emergency Care: Healthcare providers must provide emergency medical care regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.

• Right to Privacy and Confidentiality: Patients’ medical information and condition must be kept confidential, with exceptions only for public health concerns. Patients also have the right to privacy during examinations and treatment.

• Right to Respect and Dignity: Patients should receive considerate, respectful, and culturally sensitive care. They have the right to humane treatment free from abuse, neglect, or unnecessary restraint or medication.

• Right to Participate in Care Decisions: Patients have the right to make decisions about their treatment, including the right to refuse treatment, and to be involved in ethical decisions related to their care.

• Right to File Complaints and Access Advocacy: Patients can file complaints about their care and have access to patient advocates to assist with concerns or disputes.

• Right to Continuity of Care: Patients should expect coordination among healthcare providers and reasonable notice if a physician discontinues treatment when further care is needed.

These rights collectively empower patients to be active participants in their healthcare, ensuring transparency, respect, and protection throughout their medical experience.