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Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Patients have a right to:

• receive service(s) without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, national origin or sponsor;
• be treated with consideration, respect and dignity including privacy in treatment;
• be informed of the services available at the center;
• be informed of the provisions for off-hour emergency coverage;
• be informed of the charges for services, eligibility for third-party reimbursements and, when applicable, the availability of free or reduced cost care;
• receive an itemized copy of his/her account statement, upon request;
• obtain from his/her health care practitioner, or the health care practitioner's delegate, complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand;
• receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any nonemergency procedure or treatment or both. An informed consent shall include, as a minimum, the provision of information concerning the specific procedure or treatment or both, the reasonably foreseeable risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment, if any, as a reasonable medical practitioner under similar circumstances would disclose in a manner permitting the patient to make a knowledgeable decision;
• refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be fully informed of the medical consequences of his/her action;
• refuse to participate in experimental research;
• voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the center's staff, the operator and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal;
• express complaints about the care and services provided and to have the center investigate such complaints. The center is responsible for providing the patient or his/her designee with a written response within 30 days if requested by the patient indicating the findings of the investigation. The center is also responsible for notifying the patient or his/her designee that if the patient is not satisfied by the center response, the patient may complain to the New York State Department of Health's Office of Health Systems Management;
• privacy and confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to the patient's treatment;
• approve or refuse the release or disclosure of the contents of his/her medical record to any health-care practitioner and/or health-care facility except as required by law or third-party payment contract;
• access his/her medical record pursuant to the provisions of section 18 of the Public Health Law, and Subpart 50-3 of this Title;
• authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors; and
• make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. You may document your wishes in your health care proxy or on a donor card, available from the center.
  

Patients have a responsibility to:

• provide complete and honest information regarding health and health concerns;
• inform the doctor if there are changes in health status;
• participate in care by following recommendations;
• share with the medical staff, or Center Relations staff any concerns about medical care or service;
• keep appointments, or notify the staff as soon as possible if unable to keep an appointment;
• respect staff and other patients.

Call 716/656-4042 to request a copy of these rights and responsibilities.