Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
Per Florida Statute §381.026, Florida law mandates that health care providers and facilities recognize the rights of patients while receiving medical care and that patients respect the provider's or facility's right to expect certain behaviors. Below is a summary of your rights and responsibilities:
Your Rights
As a patient, you have the right to:
1. Respect and Dignity: Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of your individual dignity, and with protection of your need for privacy.
2. Prompt Response: Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
3. Provider Identification: Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for your care.
4. Support Services: Know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if you do not speak English.
5. Conduct Rules: Know what rules and regulations apply to your conduct.
6. Information Disclosure: Be given information by your health care provider concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
7. Treatment Refusal: Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
8. Financial Information: Be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your care.
9. Medicare Information: If eligible for Medicare, know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.
10. Cost Estimates: Receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
11. Itemized Bill: Receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable, itemized bill and, upon request, to have the charges explained.
12. Equal Access: Impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
13. Emergency Treatment: Treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
14. After-Hours Care: Information regarding provisions for after-hours and emergency care.
15. Experimental Research: Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give your consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.
16. Grievances: Express grievances regarding any violation of your rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or health care facility which served you and to the appropriate state licensing agency.
Your Responsibilities
As a patient, you are responsible for:
1. Providing Information: Providing accurate and complete information about your present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
2. Understanding Treatment: Reporting whether you clearly understand a contemplated course of action and what is expected of you.
3. Following Instructions: Following the treatment plan recommended by your health care provider.
4. Accepting Consequences: Accepting responsibility for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the health care provider's instructions.
5. Fulfilling Financial Obligations: Ensuring that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
6. Respecting Others: Being considerate of the rights of other patients and health care personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors.
7. Respecting Property: Being respectful of the property of other persons and of the health care facility.