For Patients: Your Rights & Responsibilities

Your Rights & Responsibilities

As a patient in our Hospital we encourage you to be informed of your rights and responsibilities:

PATIENTS’ RIGHTS

You have a right:

• To be treated with courtesy throughout your hospital experience.
• To be involved in the planning of your care from admission through to discharge, taking into account your cultural and religious beliefs.
• To be informed about your condition, treatment options and the associated risks and expected outcomes.
• To seek a second medical opinion if you consider it necessary.
• To refuse treatment or investigations after accepting responsibilities for the consequences of such a decision.
• To be able to refuse the presence of a particular health care provider, and to decline to participate in teaching and research activities bearing in mind the importance of these activities in improving standard of health care.
• To nominate a person(s) to speak on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
• To confidentiality of medical records and personal details to the extent permitted by law.
• To safe and competent care.
• To be informed of the names and roles of people caring for you.
• To make a complaint about any aspect of your hospital stay, and have it dealt with promptly without penalty to your treatment.
• To ask questions and seek clarification in regards to matters that concern you.
• To be informed of any likely out-of-pocket expenses for services provided by the Hospital prior to your admission.

This can be achieved by:

• a. discussing the matter with your doctor or any hospital staff looking after you in an attempt to achieve a solution.
• b. if the problem cannot be solved you can ing the matter to the attention of senior management of the Hospital.
• c. if the matter is more serious and you are not happy with the response you can contact the Queensland Health Rights Commissioner on 1800 077 308.

RESPONSIBILITIES

You have a responsibility:

• To respect the dignity and rights of other patients, visitors and Hospital staff.
• To cooperate with staff in the provision and planning of your health status and admission.
• To inform the Hospital if you have any Advanced Health Directive or Power of Attorney for any health and/or personal matters.
• To contact the Hospital should you wish to cancel or postpone your admission or unable to arrive at the scheduled time.
• To tell staff and/or your doctor immediately if you have any concerns about your condition or if there is any aspect of your care that you do not understand.
• To respect Hospital property, policies and regulations.
• To finalise all accounts pertaining to your hospitalisation.
• To direct any complaint to a staff member so that appropriate steps can be taken to remedy your concerns.