patienttalk.infoAHA - Patient Bill of RightsAHA - Patient Bill of Rightshttp://www.patienttalk.info/AHA-Patient_Bill_of_Rights.htm[8/28/2011 12:47:43 PM]American Hospital Association Home Page http://www.aha.org/default.htmlTo this Web page http://www.aha.org/resource/pbillofrights.htmlen EspañolAmerican Hospital AssociationMANAGEMENT ADVISORYA Patient’s Bill of RightsA Patient's Bill of Rights was first adopted by theAmerican Hospital Association in 1973.This revision was approved by the AHA Board of Trustees on October 21, 1992.IntroductionEffective health care requires collaboration between patients and physicians and other health care professionals.Open and honest communication, respect for personal and professional values, and sensitivity to differences areintegral to optimal patient care. As the setting for the provision of health services, hospitals must provide afoundation for understanding and respecting the rights and responsibilities of patients, their families, physicians,and other caregivers. Hospitals must ensure a health care ethic that respects the role of patients in decision makingabout treatment choices and other aspects of their care. Hospitals must be sensitive to cultural, racial, linguistic,religious, age, gender, and other differences as well as the needs of persons with disabilities.The American Hospital Association presents A Patient's Bill of Rights with the expectation that it will contribute tomore effective patient care and be supported by the hospital on behalf of the institution, its medical staff,employees, and patients. The American Hospital Association encourages health care institutions to tailor this bill ofrights to their patient community by translating and/or simplifying the language of this bill of rights as may benecessary to ensure that patients and their families understand their rights and responsibilities.Bill of RightsThese rights can be exercised on the patient’s behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decision maker if thepatient lacks decision-making capacity, is legally incompetent, or is a minor.1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.2. The patient has the right to and is encouraged to obtain from physicians 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 proceduresand/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, and the medically reasonablealternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits.Patients have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses, and others involved in their care, as well aswhen those involved are students, residents, or other trainees. The patient also has the right to know theimmediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are known.3. The patient has the right to make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatmentand to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy andto be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled toAHA - Patient Bill of Rightshttp://www.patienttalk.info/AHA-Patient_Bill_of_Rights.htm[8/28/2011 12:47:43 PM]other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides or transfer to another hospital. The hospitalshould notify patients of any policy that might affect patient choice within the institution.4. The patient has the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, health care proxy, or durablepower of attorney for health care) concerning treatment or designating a surrogate decision maker with theexpectation that the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospitalpolicy.Health care institutions must advise patients of their rights under state law and hospital policy to makeinformed medical choices, ask if the patient has an advance directive, and include that information in patientrecords. The patient has the right to timely information about hospital policy that may limit its ability toimplement fully a legally valid advance directive.5. The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy. Case discussion, consultation, examination, andtreatment should be conducted so as to protect each patient's privacy.6. The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will betreated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazardswhen reporting is permitted or required by law. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital willemphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to reviewinformation in these records.7. The patient has the right to review the records pertaining to his/her medical care and to have the informationexplained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.8. The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity and policies, a hospital will make reasonableresponse to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. The hospitalmust provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medicallyappropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred toanother facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient fortransfer. The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the needfor, risks, benefits, and alternatives to such a transfer.9. The patient has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among thehospital, educational institutions, other health care providers, or payers that may influence the patient'streatment and care.10. The patient has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or humanexperimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have thosestudies fully explained prior to consent. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation