Patients Rights

Patients are to be encouraged to know their rights and responsibilities and to play an active role in their health care. The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital acknowledges that when receiving health care or a service by members of our staff you have a right to:

The Right to Health Care

• Right to be treated with care and skill. To receive services that reflects your needs regardless of social status age, sex, race, religion or political belief. 
• Right to nominate a medical practitioner of your choice (Private Inpatient).

The Right to be informed  Top

• Right to be informed about the health care system and facilities available for your specific requirements
• Right to know the identify and professional status and qualifications of those providing health services
• Right to be able to request that their medical practitioner obtain a report regarding their care in any health agency to ensure that they have access to this information
• Right to obtain a second opinion from a health professional of their choice at any stage of the health care program
• Right to be acquainted, whether by means of an information booklet or other method, with the layout of the facilities available in the hospital or health care agency, for their personal assistance, safety and comfort
• Right to be informed that students are present in any group wishing to interview or examine the patient
• Right to ask for assistance for appropriate personnel if not satisfied with care and to make any suggestions which it is felt may improve this care
• Right to expect adequate instructions in self-care and for an appropriate life-style before being discharge from hospital; that relatives or friends who will be caring form them receive such instructions, and that arrangements are made for necessary support services
• Right to receive itemised details for the total final account for services rendered. 

The Right to Consent to Treatment   Top

Right to participate in the decision regarding any treatment program after – 

• A clear, concise explanation in understandable terms, with the use of a qualified interpreter if necessary, of all proposed procedures, health problems, disease processes, diagnostic tests and prognosis
• Being informed of anything that is of an experimental nature, or for the purposes of research, in the proposed treatment; 
  Being informed of any known risks and of any possible alternative avenues of treatment
• Knowing who will be concerned for their treatment; 
  Being informed of any financial cost; 
  

The Right to Refuse Treatment   Top

• Right to refuse any specific treatment, drug, examination or health procedure
• Right to refuse to participate in any research and/or experimental procedures
• Right to refuse to be attended by a particular member of the health team
• Right to refuse to be interviewed or examined by medical or allied health care students
• Right to reverse permission previously given regarding any treatment; to be informed of the likely consequences of such refusal, and to accept the responsibility for this action
• Right to seek alternative health care, but to have the possible risks of such a decision clearly explained in a factual, non-judgmental manner
• Right to leave the health care facility regardless of their physical condition of financial status, accepting that they can be requested to sign a release stating that they are leaving against the medical judgment of the doctor or hospital. The hospital may not be held liable for any resultant injury. 

The Right to Confidentiality   Top

• The right to have their medical history kept confidential, except where the individual consents to have any information divulged or where it is required to be divulged by Law. 
• The right to have all identifying personal information kept confidential (as per Medicare Agreement Act 1992). 
• The Right to Access of Persons of Their Own Choice 
  Right to access of people outside the health care facility; to assistance in seeing a minister of religion, counsellor or solicitor, also a request that specified persons not be permitted to visit
• Right to patients (e.g. Children, terminally ill) to have a relative or close friend to remain with them during hospitalisation to take part in their care when appropriate.
• Right to nominate a friend, advocate or representative to join with the patient and health professional in making decisions and to determine who should be informed of their condition. 

The Right to Complain   Top

• The right to question or lodge a complaint concerning your treatment, or care without any adverse effect on any future treatment.
• The right to be given other avenues/alternatives if you feel that your complaint is not being heard or you remain in any way unsatisfied. 

The Right to Maintenance of Dignity   Top

• Right to be treated in an humane manner, with considerate and respectful care in an atmosphere of privacy; 
• Right not be subjected to any procedure or treatment without an adequate explanation of what is involved; 
• Right to die with dignity. 

We ask that you    Top

• Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your current medical problems, previous illnesses, medications, visits to hospital, allergies and other matters relating to your state of health in order to help our staff care for you.
• Ask questions and discuss any worries with a relevant member of staff.
• Respect property belonging to other persons and the hospital. 
  Respect the well-being or rights of other patients and other staff, including consideration of the number of visitors you have, noise levels from you and your visitors, and from radios and television sets, and not smoking. 
• Assist security by only keeping small amounts of your money and jewellery while in hospital. Note that if you keep any valuables with you, they are at your own risk.

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