Individuals shall be accorded impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin or sources of payment for care.

RESPECT

The patient has the right to consideration, respect, and recognition of their individual and personal needs, values and beliefs.

INFORMATION

The patient has the right to and is encouraged to obtain from physician and other direct caregivers relevant, current, and understandable information concerning diagnosis , treatment , and prognosis.

Except in emergencies when the patient lacks decision-making capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity to discuss and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, and the medically reasonable alternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits.

The patient has the right to review the records pertaining to his;her medical care and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by Law.

IDENTITY

Patients have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses, and others involved in their care, as well as when those involved are students, residents, or other trainees. The patient also has the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are known.

The patient has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among the hospital, educational institutions, other health care providers, or prayers that may influence the patient's treatment and care.

INFORMED CONSENT

The patient has the right to make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment and to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy and to be informed of the medical consequence's of this action. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides or transfer to another hospital. The hospital should notify patients of any policy that might affect patient choice within the institution.

ADVANCED DIRECTIVE

The patient has the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, health care proxy, or durable power of attorney for health care) concerning the treatment or designating a surrogate decision maker with the expectation that the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.

Health care institutions should advise patients of their rights under state law and hospital policy to make informed medical choices, ask if the patient has an advance directive, and include that information in patient records. The patient has the right to timely information about hospital policy that may limit its ability to implement fully a legally valid advance directive.

PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment should be conducted so as to protect each patient's privacy.

The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information in these records.

TRANSFER AND CONTINUITY OF CARE

The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity and policies, a hospital will make reasonable response to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. The hospital should provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred should first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient should also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for, risk, benefits, and alternatives to such a transfer.

The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physician and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.

RESEARCH

The patient has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation is entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.

HOSPITAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The patient has the right to be reasonably informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment, and responsibilities. The patient has the right to be reasonably informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient representatives, or other mechanisms available in the institution. The patient has the right to be reasonably informed of the hospital's charges for services and available payment methods.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The collaborative nature of health care requires that patients, or their families/surrogates, participates in their care. The effectiveness of care and patient satisfaction with course of treatment depend, in part, on the patient fulfilling certain responsibilities.

Patients are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to health status.

To participate effectively in decision making, patients must be encouraged to take responsibility fore requesting additional information or clarification about their health status or treatment when they do no fully understand information and instructions.

Patients are also responsible for ensuring that the health care institution has a copy of their written advance directive if they have one.

Patients are responsible for informing their physicians and other caregivers if they anticipate problems in following prescribed treatment.

Patients should also be aware of the hospitals obligation to be reasonably efficient and equitable in providing care to other patients and the community. The hospital's rules and regulations are designed to help the hospital meet this obligation.

Patients and their families are responsible for making reasonable accommodations to the needs of the hospital, other patients, medical staff, and hospital employees.

Patients are responsible for providing necessary information for insurance claims and for working with the hospital to make payment arrangements, when necessary.

A person's health depends on much more than health care services. Patients are responsible for recognizing the impact of their lifestyle on their personal health.