You Rights in the Hospital
All hospitals have a patient’s bill of rights based on the mandated rights outlined by the Federal Government.
You have the right to:
- Ask questions
- Know who is coordinating your care (this could be your primary doctor and/or a discharge planner/ case manager)
- Considerate and respectful care
- A doctor that will answer your questions, advise you of your
treatments and discuss
your options
- A nursing staff that will respond to your needs
- To ask to speak with a member services representative (if you feel your rights are not being represented). In some cases, hospitals have their own patient advocate to assist you.
You also have the right to:
- Request a second opinion (at any time).
- Have an Advanced Directive.
- Recieve written discharge instructions that you can understand before you go home (telling you about how to care for yourself at home, follow-up doctors appointments and about your medications).
- Speak to a pharmacist if you have questions about your medications before going home.