PATIENTS' RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation, Inc. (Hospital) upholds the declaration of the World Medical Association (WMA) on the rights of patients. As such, all personnel / healthcare providers shall be advocates in ensuring that the following patients' rights are respected and defended at all times:

Right to medical care of good quality

1. Every person is entitled without discrimination to appropriate medical care.
   
2. The patient shall always be treated in accordance with his/her best interests. The treatment applied shall be in accordance with generally approved medical principles.

Right to freedom of choice

1. The patient has the right to choose freely and change his/her physician and hospital or health service institution, regardless of whether they are based in the private or public sector.
2. The patient has the right to ask for the opinion of another physician at any stage.

Right to self-determination, to make free decisions regarding himself/herself

1. The physician will inform the patient of the consequences of his/her decisions.
2. A mentally competent adult patient has the right to give or withhold consent to any diagnostic procedure or therapy.
3. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in research or the teaching of medicine.

Right of the unconscious patient to be legally represented

1. 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.
2. However, physicians should always try to save the life of a patient unconscious due to a suicide attempt.

Right of a minor or legally incompetent patient to be involved in decision-making to the fullest extent allowed by his/her capacity or be legally represented.

1. 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.

Right to refuse diagnostic procedures or treatments

however, in exceptional cases, specifically when permitted by law and in conformity with the principles of medical ethics, these procedures and treatments may be carried out.

Right to know and receive information about his/her health status including medical facts about his/her condition.

1. Information should be given in a way appropriate to the patient's culture and in such a way that the patient can understand.
2. The patient has the right not to be informed on his/her explicit request, unless required for the protection of another person's life.
3. The patient has the right to choose who, if anyone should be informed on his/her behalf.

Right to confidentiality

1. All identifiable information about a patient's health status, medical condition, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment and all other information of a personal kind must be kept confidential, even after death. Exceptionally, descendants may have a right of access to information that would inform them of their health risks.

Right to health education

1. Every person has the right to health education that will assist him/her in making informed choices about personal health and about the available health services. The education should include information about healthy lifestyle and about methods of prevention and early detection of illnesses. The personal responsibility of everybody for his/her own health should be stressed. Physicians have an obligation to participate actively in educational efforts.

Right to dignity

1. The patient's dignity and right to privacy shall be respected at all times in medical care and teaching, as shall his/her culture and values.
2. The patient is entitled to relief of his/her suffering according to the current state of knowledge.
3. The patient is entitled to humane terminal care and to be provided with all available assistance in making dying as dignified and comfortable as possible.

Right to religious assistance

1. The patient has the right to receive or to decline spiritual and moral comfort including the help of a minister of his/her chosen religion

As a patient, you have a responsibility to:

1. Inform caregiver staff of your past and current medical history, including changes in your condition
2. Provide adequate, accurate and correct information
3. Ask questions about your care and treatment, particularly if instructions are not clear
4. Participate in your plan of care by cooperating with care and participation in discharge planning
5. Respect the rights of the health care providers and others as well as the health institution by adhering to hospital policies
6. Respect the right to privacy of health workers and institutions
7. Respect the physician's decision on medical reasons on his right to religious beliefs
8. Exercise fidelity on privileged communication
9. Notify hospital staff if you are unable to keep a schedule appointment
10. Pay all bills promptly related to your care according to the hospital policies
11. Tell us how we can provide better care or service to you and your family