GOVPH

PATIENTS' RIGHTS

• THE RIGHT TO APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE AND HUMANE
  1. All individuals have the right to quality health care, within the limits of the resources, manpower and competencies available for health and medical care, and without discrimination as to gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, social class, race or ethnicity, physical and mental abilities, or cultural, religious and political beliefs.
  2. Patients who cannot immediately be given treatment shall be directed to wait for care, or be referred elsewhere where the appropriate care can be provided. If patients have to wait for care, they shall be informed of the reason for the delay.
  3. Patients needing emergency care shall be extended immediate medical care and treatment without any deposit, pledge or any form of advance payment for treatment.
  4. JRBGH staff shall respect human dignity. Patients shall never be subjected to degrading treatment or abuse by any healthcare professional.

• THE RIGHT TO INFORMED CONSENT
  1. The patient has the right to receive information and ask questions about recommended treatments so that they can make well-considered decisions about care.
  2. Successful communication in the patient-physician relationship fosters trust and supports shared decision making.
  3. The name and credentials of who will perform the procedure(s), and information about the diagnosis (when known), the nature and purpose of recommended interventions, and the burdens, risks, and expected benefits of all options, including refusing treatment, shall be presented to patients and their relatives (as appropriate) by our physicians.
  4. There may be certain instances when informed consent will not be sought, such as:
     1. In emergencies, when a decision must be made urgently by the physician, the patient is not able to participate in decision making, and the patient’s surrogate is not available;
     2. During public health emergencies, when the health of the population is dependent on a mass health program to control an epidemic;
     3. When the law makes it compulsory for everyone to submit to a procedure;
     4. When the patient is either a minor or legally incompetent in which case a third-party consent is required.
     5. When disclosure of material information to the patient will jeopardize the success of treatment, in which case third party disclosure and consent shall be sought.
     6. When the patient waives his right in writing.
  5. The following persons, in order of priority, may give consent in cases where the patient is incapable of giving consent:
     1. Spouse
     2. Son or daughter of legal age
     3. Either parent
     4. Brother or sister of legal age
     5. Guardian
  6. If next of kin, parents or legal guardians refuse to give consent to a medical or surgical procedure necessary to save the life and limb of a minor or a patient incapable of giving consent, the physician or any person interested in the welfare of the patient may seek legal advice and may petition the court.

• THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
  1. The patient has the right to decide whom, when, and to what extent their personal information and sensitive personal information is disclosed. The right to   privacy   shall include the right not to be subjected to exposure, private or public, either by photography, publications, videotaping, discussion or by any other means that would tend to reveal his person and identity.
  2. Confidential information however, may be disclosed in the following cases:
     1. When the patient’s medical or physical condition is in controversy and the court, in its discretion, orders the patient to submit to a physical or mental examination of a physician.
     2. When public health or safety so demands
     3. When the patient or his/her legal representative expressly gives their consent
     4. When the patient is a minor or legally incapacitated, the parents, legal guardian or next of kin shall be informed
     5. When the patient’s medical or surgical condition is discussed in a medical or scientific forum for expert discussion for his/her benefit or for the advancement of science and medicine, as long as there is de-identification of the patient and shared medical confidentiality for those who have access to the information.

• THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION
  1. The patient has the right to an explanation in terms that he/she can understand and to have any questions answered concerning symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
  2. The risks of such treatment, common side effects of medications and financial considerations associated with medical care shall also be explained.
  3. Patients have the right to examine and be given an itemized bill of the hospital and medical services rendered in the facility and a thorough explanation of such a bill.
  4. They have the right to be informed about continuing health requirements following discharge, including instructions about home medications, diet, physical activity and all other pertinent information to promote health and well-being.

• THE RIGHT TO THE MEDICAL RECORD
  1. Patients have the right to view the content of his medical records in the presence of his attending physician or any designated staff, except psychiatric notes and other incriminatory information obtained about third parties.
  2. Upon discharge, patients may obtain a copy of certain parts of the medical record, the purpose of which shall be indicated in a written request to the Medical Records Office.

• THE RIGHT TO REFUSE DIAGNOSTIC AND MEDICAL TREATMENT
  1. The patient has the right to refuse treatment or procedures as long as the following conditions are satisfied:
  2. He/she is of legal age and mentally competent
  3. He/she is informed of the medical consequences of his/her refusal
  4. He/she releases those involved in care from any obligation relative to the consequence(s) of his/her decision and
  5. The refusal will not jeopardize public health and safety.

• THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE HIS/HER PHYSICIAN AND HEALTH FACILITY.
  1. The patient is free to choose or change his physician unless under the care of a service facility, or when public health and safety so demands. However, he or she is free to seek a second opinion and subsequent opinions, if necessary, from another physician or health institution.
  2. A patient may request transfer to another institution at any time.

• THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION.
  1. The patient is encouraged to make choices and decisions about the types and extent of medical care they want to accept or refuse.
  2. JRBGH encourages that patients make an advance directive for physicians to administer care when suffering from a terminal illness.

• THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND ASSISTANCE
  1. The patient has the right to receive spiritual and moral comfort from a priest or minister of his or her choice.
  2. He or she has the right to refuse medical treatment or procedures which may be contrary to religious beliefs, subject to the limitations listed in Section 3.3. 6 above. If such a right is imposed by parents upon their children who have not reached the legal age in a life-threatening situation, the attending physician or Chief of Hospital shall be consulted.

• THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
  1. The patient has the right to leave the hospital regardless of his physical condition provided that:
     1. He/she is informed about the medical consequences of the decision.
     2. He/she releases those involved under his/her care from any obligation relative to the consequences of the decision
     3. The decision will not prejudice public health and safety
  2. No patient shall be detained against their will on the sole basis of failure to fully settle financial obligations.

• THE RIGHT TO REFUSE PARTICIPATION IN MEDICAL RESEARCH.
  1. The patient has the right to consent or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation is still entitled to the most effective care that JRBGH can provide.

• THE RIGHT TO CORRESPONDENCE AND TO RECEIVE VISITORS.
  1. The patient has the right to communicate with his or her relatives and other persons and receive visitors during visiting hours designated to this purpose by the hospital administration.
  2. However, visitation rights shall consider the impact on patient care, and the safety and security of patients, visitors and all healthcare workers.
  3. During cases such as pandemics, the hospital may suspend this right.

• THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS GRIEVANCES.
  1. Patients have the right to make inquiries, comments, complaints, questions or recommendations using the hospital’s complaint mechanism.
  2. The patient shall be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts.

• THE RIGHT TO SECURITY OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
  1. The hospital has a responsibility to provide safe custody for any items handed in by patients for safekeeping, or where items are found to be in the possession of admitted patients who are unconscious, confused, lack mental capacity or who subsequently die while in the hospital.
  2. Items shall be immediately turned over to authorized persons or next of kin.
  3. Patients admitted to the hospital shall be actively discouraged from bringing valuables, cash and other non-essential items of property with them.

• THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED OF HIS RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AS A PATIENT.
  1. The patient has the right to be informed of hospital practices that relate to patient care treatment and responsibilities.