Patient Rights in Healthcare

Patient Rights

• The right to receive accurate and easily understandable information about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
• The right to participate in decision-making about their care, including the right to refuse treatment
• The right to privacy and confidentiality
• The right to receive care without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status
• The right to access their medical records and request corrections if necessary
• The right to file a complaint or grievance if they feel their rights have been violated

Informed Consent

• The process of obtaining a patient's voluntary agreement to undergo a medical treatment or procedure
• Requires that the patient be fully informed of:
  • The nature of the treatment or procedure
  • The potential benefits and risks
  • Any alternative treatments or options
  • The potential consequences of not receiving treatment
• Informed consent must be:
  • Voluntary (free from coercion or manipulation)
  • Informed (based on accurate and complete information)
  • Competent (the patient has the mental capacity to make decisions)
• Informed consent can be revoked at any time

Medical Confidentiality

• The duty of healthcare providers to maintain the confidentiality of patient information
• Applies to all health information, including:
  • Medical records
  • Test results
  • Diagnoses
  • Treatment plans
• Healthcare providers must:
  • Protect patient information from unauthorized access
  • Only share information with authorized personnel
  • Obtain patient consent before sharing information with others
• Exceptions to confidentiality include:
  • Mandatory reporting of certain diseases or injuries
  • Court-ordered disclosure
  • Reporting of child or elder abuse

Patient Rights

• Patients have the right to receive accurate and easily understandable information about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
• Patients have the right to participate in decision-making about their care, including the right to refuse treatment.
• Patients have the right to privacy and confidentiality, including the protection of their medical records and personal information.
• Patients have the right to receive care without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status.
• Patients have the right to access their medical records and request corrections if necessary.
• Patients have the right to file a complaint or grievance if they feel their rights have been violated.

Informed Consent

• Informed consent is the process of obtaining a patient's voluntary agreement to undergo a medical treatment or procedure.
• Patients must be fully informed of the nature of the treatment or procedure, potential benefits and risks, alternative treatments or options, and potential consequences of not receiving treatment.
• Informed consent must be voluntary, informed, and competent, meaning the patient is free from coercion or manipulation, has accurate and complete information, and has the mental capacity to make decisions.
• Informed consent can be revoked at any time.

Medical Confidentiality

• Healthcare providers have a duty to maintain the confidentiality of patient information, including medical records, test results, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
• Healthcare providers must protect patient information from unauthorized access and only share information with authorized personnel.
• Patient consent must be obtained before sharing information with others, except in cases of mandatory reporting, court-ordered disclosure, or reporting of child or elder abuse.