All you need to know about the charter to uphold patients’ rights

The union health ministry is willing to implement a "charter of patients' rights" which includes patients’ freedom to choose medicines and diagnostic tests. Here, we decode it for you.

Editorial Team | Published: September 3, 2018 3:20 pm

This is what you need to know about the “charter of patient rights”. © Shutterstock

The Health Ministry released the draft of a “charter of patient rights” prepared by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). “The ministry plans to implement the charter through state governments for provision of proper health care to patients by clinical establishments,” says Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI. The charter includes 17 rights of patients (as follows) along with the description of the rights and duty bearers.

Right to information
Right to records and reports
Right to emergency medical care
Right to informed consent
Right to confidentiality, human dignity and privacy
Right to second opinion
Right to transparency in rates, and care according to prescribed rates wherever relevant
Right to non-discrimination
Right to safety and quality care according to standards
Right to choose alternative treatment options, if available
Right to choose source for obtaining medicines or tests
Right to proper referral and transfer, which is free from perverse commercial influences
Right to protection for patients involved in clinical trials
Right to protection of participants involved in biomedical and health research
Right to take discharge of patient, or receive body of deceased from hospital
Right to patient education
Right to be heard and seek redressal

“Along with promoting their rights, the charter also states that patients and caretakers should follow their responsibilities so that hospitals and doctors can perform their work satisfactorily,” says Dr Aggarwal.

All the required health information should be provided by the patient to the doctor. This will help the doctor to give you an appropriate treatment.
Patients should cooperate with the doctor during examination, diagnostic tests and treatment, and should follow doctor’s advice, while keeping in view their right to participate in decision making related to treatment.
Patients should follow all instructions regarding appointment time, cooperate with hospital staff and fellow patients, avoid creating disturbance to other patients, and maintain cleanliness in the hospital.
Patients should respect the dignity of the doctor and other hospital staff as human beings and as professionals. Whatever the grievance may be, patient / caregivers should not resort to violence in any form and damage or destroy any property of the hospital or the service provider.

Published: September 3, 2018 3:20 pm

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