PATIENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To ensure and protect the rights of patients to decent, humane and quality health care for all patients admitted in the SFDHI.
- Right To Care
The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care along with recognition of his / her individuality and personal needs, The patient shall not be denied if appropriate hospital care because of nationality, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, and financial status.
- Right to Informed Consent
The patient has the right to receive from his / her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and treatment
Patient shall never be subjected to any procedure without his / her written informed consent, except in the following instances:
- in emergency cases, when the patient is at imminent risk of physical injury or death if treatment is withheld or postponed;
- when the law makes it compulsory for everyone to submit to a procedure;
- When the patient is either a minor, or legally incompetent, in which case, a third party consent is required.
- Right to Information
The patient has the right to obtain from physicians and other direct caregivers relevant, current, and understandable information about his / her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
- Freedom of Choice
The patient and his / her family have the right to make decisions about the plan of care before and during the course of treatment and to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care.
- Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
The patient has the right to privacy at all stages of his / her treatment. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment shall be conducted in a manner that each patient’s privacy is thereby protected.
- Right to Education
The patient and / or when appropriate, his / her family has the right to be provided with appropriate education and training to increase knowledge of the patient’s illness and treatment needs and to learn skills and behaviors to promote recovery and improve function.
- Right to Dignity
The patient’s dignity shall be respected at all times in medical care and teaching, as shall his / her culture and values. The patient is entitled to relief of his / her suffering according to the current state of knowledge.
- Right to Religious Belief
- The patient has the right to refuse medical treatment or procedures which may be contrary to his / her religious beliefs.
- The patient has the right to receive or to decline spiritual and moral comfort including the help of a minister or priest of his / her chosen religion.
- The Right of the Legally Incompetent Patient
If a patient is a minor or otherwise legally incompetent, the consent of a legally entitled representative is required in some jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the patient must be involved in the decision making to the fullest extent allowed by his / her capacity.
In case the patient is incapable of giving consent and third party consent is required, the following legally entitled representatives, in the order of priority stated hereunder, may give consent:
- Spouse
- Son or daughter of legal age
- Either parent
- Brother or sister of legal age
- Guardian
- The Right of Unconscious Patient
If the patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to express his / her will, informed consent must be obtained whenever possible, from a legally entitled representative as stipulated above.
- Right to a Reasonable Response
The patient has the right to expect that within its capacity, a hospital must make a reasonable response to the request of a patient for services, including pastoral counseling, special communication needs and attention to any security concerns.