Patient Rights and Responsibilities – مستشفى النور

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

First: Understanding the Rights and Responsibilities of Patients and Their Families

Patients and their families shall be informed of the hospital’s mission, the patient’s rights, and their responsibilities toward the hospital.

Patients and their families have the right to receive a copy of the Patient and Family Rights Charter upon registration or admission to the hospital.

Patients and their families have the right to receive assistance from hospital staff in understanding the Patient and Family Rights Charter whenever needed.

Patient and family rights shall be clearly displayed throughout the hospital on posters or wall notices.

Contact details for the Patient Relations Department shall be clearly displayed in prominent locations throughout the hospital.

Second: Access to Healthcare Services

Patients have the right to receive appropriate healthcare at the right time and place, regardless of race, religion, language, gender, age, or disability, in accordance with the hospital’s eligibility policies and procedures, available capacity, and applicable regulations.

Patients or their legal guardians have the right to receive complete and clear information about the patient’s condition and health status in language they can understand.

Patients shall receive appropriate education and guidance to help them understand and manage their health condition effectively.

Patients have the right to receive appropriate nutrition tailored to their medical condition.

Patients have the right to receive appropriate pain assessment and management.

Third: Privacy and Confidentiality

The patient’s treatment plan shall be discussed confidentially with the patient or their legal guardian.

The patient’s dignity and bodily privacy shall be protected at all times, except when exposure is medically necessary for examination or treatment.

All information relating to the patient, including their diagnosis, test results, treatment, and medical records, shall remain confidential and protected from misuse. Such information may only be disclosed with the consent of the patient or their legal guardian, except where disclosure is required by law.

Access to the patient’s medical record shall be restricted to the medical team responsible for their care, the Quality Management Team, authorized hospital researchers following approval by the Scientific Research Committee, and judicial authorities when legally required.

Patients shall be provided with appropriate clothing and essential personal items.

Suitable and comfortable waiting areas shall be provided.

Patients have the right to request the presence of a staff member of the same gender during clinical examinations or medical procedures.

Patients shall not be kept in the examination room longer than medically necessary.

Fourth: Protection and Safety

Patients have the right to receive healthcare in a safe environment appropriate to their medical condition.

Patients shall not be placed in isolation unless medically necessary.

Patients shall be transported safely to, from, and within the hospital’s facilities.

Appropriate measures shall be in place to protect patients’ personal belongings from theft or damage.

Patients shall be protected from all forms of physical and verbal abuse.

Specific policies shall be in place to protect children, people with disabilities, and older adults from all forms of abuse or harm.

Smoking is prohibited throughout all hospital facilities.

Fifth: Respect and Dignity

Patients have the right to receive appropriate healthcare in a respectful and compassionate manner at all times and under all circumstances, with their dignity fully protected.

Patients shall be addressed by the name stated in their official documents and shall not be identified by any other label or designation.

The patient’s religious, spiritual, cultural, and social values and beliefs shall be respected.

Patients shall receive dignified and compassionate end-of-life care, and their remains shall be handled with the utmost respect after death.

Sixth: Participation in the Healthcare Plan

Patients have the right to be informed about the healthcare services provided, their proposed treatment plan, and the hospital’s capabilities and available resources.

The patient or their legal guardian has the right to receive complete and up-to-date information from the treating physician regarding the diagnosis and treatment in clear, understandable language.

Patients have the right to know the names and specialties of all healthcare professionals involved in their care, including the physician responsible for their treatment and follow-up. Patients shall also be informed if licensed trainees are part of the medical team.

The treating physician shall discuss the expected outcomes, available treatment alternatives (if any), potential complications, and associated risks with the patient or their legal guardian.

The patient or their legal guardian has the right to receive all necessary information from the treating physician before any treatment or surgical procedure and before signing the informed consent form. The patient also has the right to know the name of the healthcare professional responsible for the procedure, except in emergencies requiring immediate medical intervention in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Patients have the right to be informed about the medical procedures, medications, and radiological treatments involved in their care, including their effectiveness and safety.

Patients shall be informed of the reasons for any transfer within or outside the hospital and provided with all necessary instructions.

Patients have the right to seek a second medical opinion.

Seventh: Right to Refuse Treatment

The patient or their legal guardian shall be informed of their right to refuse the proposed treatment, either in full or in part. The hospital shall respect this right in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. They shall also be informed of the potential consequences of refusal and required to sign the relevant treatment refusal form.

Refusing treatment shall not result in any decisions or actions unrelated to the patient’s medical condition. Healthcare providers shall continue to provide appropriate care in accordance with established medical standards.

Refusing treatment shall not result in any future decisions or actions that adversely affect the patient’s access to care for the same condition or any other medical condition.

If treatment is refused, the patient or their legal guardian shall be informed of all available alternative treatment options.

Eighth: Participation in Research Programs

Patients may participate in research programs and studies related to their medical condition if they meet the eligibility criteria and places are available. Before participation, they shall receive clear information about the research, including any clinical procedures, treatments, medications, and expected outcomes.

Patients have the right to accept or refuse participation before the research or study begins and may withdraw at any time during their participation.

Participation in any research or study requires a dedicated informed consent form signed by the patient or their legal guardian before enrollment.

All research and studies must be approved and supervised by an authorized official or scientific committee.

Clear procedures shall be in place to protect patients and receive their complaints and feedback throughout the research or study.

Patients have the right to withdraw from participation at any time without affecting their right to receive continued medical care.

Ninth: Clarity and Comprehensiveness of Consent Forms

A list shall be available specifying procedures that require separate informed consent, including at minimum: surgical procedures, anesthesia, organ and tissue donation, blood transfusions and blood products, and high-risk medical interventions or treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy.

The patient or their legal guardian shall receive a clear explanation of all information contained in the consent form, using language they can understand, including the potential benefits and risks of accepting or refusing the proposed procedure or treatment.

The signed consent form shall be retained in the patient’s medical record.

Tenth: Policies and Procedures for Complaints and Suggestions

Patients may submit verbal or written complaints, whether signed or anonymous, as well as suggestions to the Patient Relations Department, without affecting the quality of care they receive.

The quality of care provided to patients shall not be affected if they submit a complaint to the hospital.

Complaints submitted by patients or their families shall be addressed promptly, with a response provided within a reasonable timeframe.

Patients and their families shall be informed of the hospital’s procedures for reviewing complaints and suggestions, as well as the expected timeframe for receiving a response.

Patients or their families shall be kept informed of any available updates regarding their submitted complaint or suggestion.