Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights as a Patient

• You may expect to be treated courteously, and you may ask questions and receive answers about your care.
• You should know what treatment and procedures your doctor is recommending. If you don't understand them, you should ask questions. You may refuse care or treatment to the extent permitted by law. However, if you refuse care or treatment or do not follow instructions, you are responsible for the result.
• You may ask the names of the people caring for you and their role in your treatment.
• You may ask other doctors, including specialists, for their opinion on your care if you pay the cost involved.
• In most circumstances you may look at or, for a fee, obtain copies of your medical record.
• You may expect privacy and safe surroundings while you are in the Medical Center.
• You may expect that communications and records about your care will be treated confidentially.
• You may talk privately with anyone you wish, but you do not have to talk to anyone who is not directly involved in your care.
• You may take part in religious or social activities unless your doctor thinks it would interfere with your care.
• You should not be unreasonably treated, either mentally or physically.
• You may raise questions if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your care. If you don't understand English, you may ask for an interpreter. The Medical Center will do its best to respond to your request.
• You should be informed when students or persons from outside the Medical Center are involved in your care, and you do not have to take part in any research or experimental project.
• You may expect that someone will explain why you are moving and any other choices available to you if you have to be transferred to another Medical Center or health care facility.
• You should be informed what to do to continue your care to help you recover after you leave the Medical Center. If you do not understand what you are to do, ask your doctor.
• You may look at or receive a copy of your Medical Center bill no matter who pays for your care, unless otherwise provided by law. You may ask about financial help available through the Medical Center. You should be informed when you are no longer eligible for insurance or when payments of your bill by others will end.
• You should not be discriminated against in your care on the basis of your race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, sexual preference or source of payment.
• You may wear appropriate personal clothing and religious items, as long as they do not interfere with your care or your personal safety.
• You may request a transfer to another room if another patient or visitors are disturbing you.
• You may have an advance directive to express your choices about your future care or the name of someone to make decisions if you can not speak for yourself.

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

• Following the Medical Center's rules and regulations.
• Providing, to the best of your ability, accurate and complete details about your past illnesses and present condition. You are responsible for telling your doctor or other Medical Center personnel whether you have been hospitalized in the past, what for, and what medicine or medications you are now taking or you have with you.
• Telling your doctor if there is an unexpected change in your condition or if problems arise in your treatment.
• Telling the doctor or nurse if you do not understand your treatment or if you do not understand what you are expected to do.
• Following the advice and instructions of the doctor, nurses and other Medical Center personnel concerning your care.
• Keeping your appointments and for telling the doctor or nurse if you cannot keep an appointment.
• Paying your bill promptly and telling the Medical Center if you cannot pay the bill. If you are not paying your own bill, you are responsible for telling the Medical Center who will pay it.
• You are responsible if you refuse treatment or do not follow instructions. 
• The Medical Center staff is expected to be courteous to you, and you are in turn expected to be courteous to them and other patients. You are expected to help in keeping the noise and number of visitors to reasonable levels. You may not damage or remove Medical Center property or the property of other patients.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your care, there are steps you can take to report the problem and get it resolved.

Visitors

A patient, except for necessary restrictions, has the right to determine who may or may not visit. The Medical Center will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.