Patient Bill of Rights

1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.
2. The patient has the right to obtain from their physician complete, current information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to an appropriate person on his/her behalf. The patient has the right to know, by name, the physician responsible for their care.
3. The patient has the right to receive from their physician, information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure(s) and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the specific procedure(s) and/or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to such information. The patient also has the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedure(s) and/or treatment.
4. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of their action.
5. The patient has the right to every consideration of their privacy concerning their own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discretely. Those not directly involved in their care must have the permission of the patient to be present.
6. The patient has the right to expect that all communications, financial information and medical records pertaining to their care should be treated as confidential.
7. The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity, The Surgery Center must make reasonable responses to the request of a patient for services. The Surgery Center must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after they have received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for, and alternatives to, such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient transfer.
8. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of The Surgery Center to other health care and educational institutions insofar as their care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationships among individuals, by name, who are treating them.
9. The patient has the right to be advised if The Surgery Center proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting their care of treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
10. The patient has the right to expect continuity of care.
11. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of their bill regardless of source of payment.
12. The patient has the right to know that The Surgery Center has rules and regulations (aka PATIENT RESONSIBILITIES) which apply to their conduct as a patient.
13. The patient has the right to know if their private physician has an investment ownership in The Surgery Center.