Pediatric Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights

1. You have the right to be treated with kindness and respect. Your special needs are important.
    
2. You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of your pain.
    
3. You have the right to receive care for your health problems no matter what your race, sex, spiritual and cultural beliefs, or your source of payment for treatment.
    
4. You have the right to privacy when your health care is given. The results of your care will only be shared with those health care staff who need to know.
    
5. Your health records are private. Your consent is required before your records can be given to others unless you are being transferred to another facility or if the law or third party payor requests them.
    
6. You have the right to ask to read your health records after your doctor has reviewed them.
    
7. You have the right to be involved in your plan of care with your comfort and safety a priority.
    
8. You have the right to know the names of all the doctors and health care workers giving you care.
    
9. You have the right to be informed about your health problems in a way you understand. If you are unable to understand, your next of kin, or legal spokesperson will be given this information.
    
10. Except for emergency, your doctor must get your consent before doing any test or treatment. If you are unable for health reasons, your legal spokesperson must give consent.
     
11. You have the right NOT to be in research or donor programs unless you or your legal spokesperson chooses to give your consent.  You may refuse to stay in such a program at any time.
     
12. You have the right to refuse any test, surgery, treatment, or drug offered by your doctor or the hospital, as the law allows.  You have the right to be told what results could happen if you refuse care. In the event you become unable to make decisions, an advanced directive can help you ensure your wishes are carried out.
     
13. You have the right to ask for help in getting a second doctor’s opinion at your own cost.
     
14. If you do not speak English or if you have a problem communicating your needs, you have the right to have help communicating these needs.
     
15. You have the right to request a meeting with the Ethics Committee to help you understand difficult health care issues. Contact your nurse to help you do this.
     
16. You have the right to expect emergency care to be given as quickly as possible.
     
17. You have the right to know what types of care the hospital offers and how much the care will cost even if your insurance does not cover it.
     
18. You have the right not to be taken to another health care facility, except for special care needs, your own welfare, the welfare of other patients, or for not paying your bill. You will be told of options.
     
19. Before going home, you have the right to be told about how to take care of your health needs yourself or what places can help you do this.
     
20. You have the right to look at your bill and have explained how charges relate to care you received.
     
21. You have the right to be told of payment plans and help in choosing a way to pay for your bill.
     
22. You are asked to tell any hospital employee if you notice good or bad things about your care. You may have someone help protect your patient rights. Ask your nurse to help you contact the patient advocate.

Your Responsibilities

1. You are responsible to be polite to other patients.
    
   
• a. Remember that your roommate needs privacy.
• b. No more than 2 visitors at a time in your room.
• c. Keep your visitors and visits quiet.
• d. Respect other people’s belongings.
• e. Use the television, telephone, and lights quietly.
   
2. You are responsible for giving the correct and complete details about your health and any matters that affect your health (examples: drug allergies, use of medications).
    
3. You are responsible for telling the nurse or doctor if you think your symptoms or health problem has changed.
    
4. You are responsible for following the instructions given to you by the doctor or nurse. Tell them right away if you do not understand or cannot follow the instructions.
    
5. You are responsible for the results which may occur if you refuse health care or do not follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and the health care staff.
    
6. You are responsible to pay the hospital bill as soon as possible.
    
7. You are responsible for your valuables (jewelry, money, etc.) if you decide to keep them instead of sending them home or to the hospital safe.
    
8. You are responsible to tell your caregivers when you are in pain.

 
Patient Advocate Services

Our main goal is serving you, that is why we have a full-time patient representative available to talk with you or your family should you have any concerns or problems during your stay with us. For more information see Patient Advocate Services.