Patient Rights and Responsibilities/Advance Directives

Washington Hospital Center wants you to receive quality care. As a patient at the hospital, it is important to realize that you have both rights and responsibilities. This summary of patients' rights and responsibilities describe how you can participate in receiving quality care. Complete information regarding your rights and responsibilities is available from the Center for Ethics (202-877-0246). Feel free to discuss this list with your doctor or the head nurse on your unit. If you have further questions, call the Customer Care Line at ext. 7-4YOU (7-4968)

Respect

Your Rights

to be treated with respect and courtesy
to receive safe, considerate, ethical and cost effective medical care
to have your individual cultural, spiritual and psychosocial needs respected
to have your privacy and personal dignity maintained
to expect that information regarding your care will be treated as confidential

Your Responsibilities

to respect hospital personnel
to respect care givers' efforts to provide care for other patients
to respect hospital property
to be considerate of other patients and to see that your visitors do the same

Treatment

Your Rights

to receive treatment regardless of race, religion or any other discrimination prohibited by law
to receive emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay
to expect reasonable continuity of care and to be informed of available and realistic care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate
to have your needs for pain management addressed and treated
to be free from the use of restraints and/or seclusion unless clinically necessary.

Your Responsibilities

to follow your care givers' instructions and help them in their efforts to return you to health
to inform your caregivers if you think there may be problems in following their instructions
to participate in decision making about your medical care
to recognize the impact of life style on your personal health
to ask your treating physician if he/she has any conflicts of interests that directly affect your care.

Advance Directives

Your Rights

to have an advance directive (living will and/or durable power of attorney for health care decisions)
to obtain information regarding an advance directive
to have your advance directive (if you have one) included in your medical record
to have your advance directive followed to the extent that is medically appropriate and lawful.

Your Responsibilities

to inform the hospital if you have an advance directive
to give the hospital a copy of your written advance directive (if you have one)

Information

Your Rights

to understand your diagnosis and treatment, as well as the possible outcomes, risks and benefits of your care
to have information regarding your medical treatment explained to your family member or other appropriate individual when you are unable to participate in decisions about your care
to access a foreign language or American Sign Language interpreter and/or adaptive equipment (including TDDs) if needed
to be advised of hospital policies, procedures, rules and regulations that may affect your care
to be aware of any proposed hospital research in which you may be involved
to be aware that the hospital's bioethics committee is available to you to discuss ethical issues related to your care
to understand that your caregivers may be both teachers and students
to know the names/titles of your caregivers
to see your medical records (in accordance with hospital policy and/or the law)
to review your bill and to have any questions or concerns you have adequately addressed

Your Responsibilities

to provide the hospital with accurate and complete information about your medical history
to ask your care givers for more information if you do not understand your illness or treatment
to provide the hospital with necessary payment and/or insurance information

Involvement

Your Rights

to be involved in decisions concerning your care
to have your family members and/or others involved in decisions about your care
to exclude your family members and/or others from participating in decisions about your care
to discuss any treatment planned for you
to give your informed consent or informed refusal for treatment
to leave the hospital or request a transfer (in accordance with hospital policy and/or the law)
to refuse to be treated by a student
to consent or decline to participate in clinical research

Your Responsibilities

to abide by hospital rules and regulations
to keep your appointments
to pay your bills on time
to inform the hospital if you believe your rights have been violated

Revised Version Approved by the Bioethics Committee: May 20, 2004

Health Information

Health Information Encyclopedia

In Depth Patient Reports

110 Irving Street, NW · Washington, DC 20010 · Washington Hospital Center · (202) 877-7000