Patient Rights

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

When you are in a healthcare setting to receive medical attention, you have certain rights.

Humans are born with certain rights, just because they are humans. Right is a universal concept. Right can be explained as “the privilege to the person given by law”.

Human rights are first discussed in 1215, England. Bill of Rights at the end of 18th century in US and 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France were the first official documents regarding human rights.

After foundation of UN, human rights became universal and Universal Declaration of Human Rights was published. Human rights can be explained as “all men are born free and equal” in short. These rights are balanced with the duty of respecting other people’s rights and not to refuse anyone these rights. There are many chapters of human rights and patient rights is one of them

Patient Rights
1) Right to receive healthcare:  Every patient shall have the right to receive medical care in keeping with equity and justice. No one can be denied to receive healthcare, based on their race, language, religion or denomination, sex, political opinion, philosophical conviction, social or economic situation, or any other form of discrimination.
2) Right to be informed:   Every patient has the right to seek and receive all the information necessary for them to understand your medical situation in both oral and written form. Every patient has the right to know the medical institutions capabilities and possible treatments.
3) Right to choose and change healthcare institution and personnel: Every patient has the right to choose and change the institution they want to receive healthcare. Every patient has the right to choose, change and ask for credentials of the individuals that are in control of patient’s healthcare.
4) Right to privacy: Every patient has a right for privacy within capabilities of the institution.
5) Right to refuse, stop and consent treatment: Every patient has a right to refuse, stop and to be asked for their consent during treatment.
6) Right to security: Every patient has a right to receive healthcare in a safe and secure setting.
7) Right to religion:  Every patient has a right to perform their religious duties within institution’s capabilities.
8) Right to respect: Every patient has a right to receive to be treated respectfully by others, in a caring, hygienic, safe and peaceful setting.
9) Right to visit and company: Every patient has a right to receive visitors and keep an accompanying person in rule with the healthcare institution’s regulations.

Patient Responsibilities
“Patient Responsibilities” is a recent term. This can be explained as the patient’s duties and responsibilities before, during and after they receive medical attention. Those responsibilities can be summed up as 
1) Basic Responsibilities:
a. People are responsible for their own health. Every person should do to take care of their health and follow the advice given to them towards a healthy life.
b. People can donate blood and/or organs if they are appropriate candidates.
c. People must take care of simple situations themselves.
2) Social Security Responsibilities:
a. Patients have to report the changes within their social security status and personal information on time.
b. Patients have to get their social security documents stamped and validated on time.
3) Informing Healthcare Workers:
a. Patients must tell about their complaints, previous diseases, inpatient treatments, medications taken and other information regarding their healthcare information in detail.
4) To Follow Healthcare Institution’s Rules:
a. Patients have to comply with the rules and regulations of the healthcare institution they receive treatment.
b. Patients have to follow the referral system set up by Ministry of Health and Social Security Administration.
c. Patients are expected to cooperate with the healthcare staff during their treatment, care and rehabilitation process.
d. Patients have to comply with their appointments and any changes in appointment date or time should be reported immediately to the institution.
e. Patients must honor the rights of healthcare staff, other patients and visitors.
f. Patients must cover for any damages they give to the institution.
5) To Comply Recommendations About Their Treatment:
a. Patients must take the recommendations and prescribed treatments, medications etc. carefully and ask if they have any questions.
b. Patients must inform the healthcare staff if they are not able to comply with their treatment methods.
c. Patients must say if they are able to follow and understand the healthcare program during treatment and after discharge.
d. Patients are responsible for the results caused by their refusal of treatment or not following up the advice given.