Understanding your Rights and Responsibilities

For most people being a patient is unfamiliar and therefore it is important that you understand your rights and responsibilities as a patient. If you have any questions regarding your rights and responsibilities, please contact our staff.

You have a right:

• to be treated with courtesy, and have your ethnic, cultural and religious beliefs respected;
• to be informed about facilities and services, costs, medications used, methods of treatment and referral to other services;
• to confidentiality of personal information;
• to make a written application for access to your medical records and personal information;
• to be involved in decisions about your care;
• to staff who identify themselves to you;
• to an explanation of treatment and its risks before giving consent;
• to advice on seeking a second medical opinion;
• to advice on care after discharge;
• to discharge yourself at any time even against the advice of your doctor or hospital staff, however, you must accept the associated risks and sign a form taking responsibility before you leave the hospital.

Your Responsibilities are:

• to answer questions about your health honestly and to comply with prescribed treatment;
• to tell staff about any medication you are taking;
• to make sure you understand what is said to you;
• to abide by the hospital’s non-smoking policy;
• to advise staff if visitors are worrying you;
• to show consideration for other patients;
• to treat your health care workers with respect and courtesy regardless of their cultural and ethnic background.

How to Make a Compliment, a Suggestion or a Complaint: