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Know Your Patient Rights

To be fully empowered it’s important to know your rights as a patient.

Some are guaranteed by federal law.

For example, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that people with disabilities have legal protection against discrimination in the workplace, housing, public programs and residential settings (including treatment facilities such as hospitals and clinics). In the previous section on Personal Health Records we also mentioned The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in relation to protecting the privacy of healthcare information. HIPAA consists of two Titles. Title I protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. Title II addresses the security and privacy of health information and your right to access, inspect, copy and request correction or amendment of your health information.

You can find more information about the ADA and HIPAA in the link to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights below. Most states also have health-related laws to protect patients. You can find information about these state laws in the FindLaw resource below.

In addition a Patient Bill of Rights was adopted by President Clinton’s U.S. Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry in 1998. It covers issues relating to:

Information Disclosure
Choice of Providers and Plans
Access to Emergency Services
Participation in Treatment Decisions
Respect and Non-discrimination
Confidentiality of Health Information
Complaints and Appeals

This Patients Bill of Rights has been adopted by insurance plans offered to federal employees. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid adhere to many of them and it has been adopted by numerous other health plans and facilities. You can find more information about the Patient Bill of Rights, and other information around your rights, in the Patient Rights section of MedlinePlus below.

You also have important rights relating to decisions at the end of life, such as Living Wills and assigning a Durable Power of Attorney. This is covered in the next section on End of Life Planning and Care.

Resources

Super Smart Health

Empowering Health and Wellbeing

Know Your Patient Rights