This document discusses patients' rights and responsibilities. It outlines that patients have the right to considerate and respectful care, to be informed, to give consent, to privacy and confidentiality, and to reasonable treatment. Patients are responsible for providing accurate medical information, complying with treatment, informing doctors of issues, and making bill payments. The doctor-patient relationship is a professional one for service, not employment. Consumer protection acts have increased patient awareness of their rights in India, though the medical field initially opposed more regulation.

1. PATIENTS’ RIGHTS &
RESPONSIBILITIES
DR. ARUN BAL

2. CONCEPT OF PATIENTS RIGHTS
• Part of Human Rights
• Evolved over last 3 decades
• Strong patients right movement
• Still in infancy in India
• Impetus given by Consumer Protection Act
• Protection of Patients Rights is Physicians duty
• Well known in ancient India
• Bill of patients rights in USA

3. PATIENTS RIGHTS
 Right to get considerate and respectful care
 Right to Information
 Right to give informed consent
 Right to privacy
 Right to Confidentiality
 Right to Obtain reasonable care and treatment
 Right to get copies of all medical records
 Right to know whether patient is part of any trial
or clinical research
 Right to get details of Treatment cost/ payments
 Right to expect continuity of Care
 Right to obtain Second opinion

4. Responsibilities of Patients
• Provide accurate, relevant information for proper
diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and counseling purposes
• Comply and follow doctors instructions diligently
• Inform the physician in case of any problems
• Take preventive measures in case of infectious diseases
• Enquire about the costs of treatment
• Make payment of bills
• Take care and protect the hospital environment
• To utilize the health system properly and do not
abuse/monopolize it
• Respect autonomy of doctors, nurses and other staff

5. Responsibilities of Patients
• Be aware that doctors and nurses are also human beings and
amenable to mistakes
• Treat doctors, nurses and hospital staff with respect
• To preserve all medical records
• To be aware of the health facilities offered in local area
• Keep the doctor informed if pt wants to change hospital or
doctor
• No doctor shopping
• Take care of ones health know the body, lifestyle eg
consumption of tobacco alcohol, sleep exercise

6. Responsibilities of Patients
• Do not self medicate or be influenced by advts/advice by non
medicos
• Have a guide in the medical profession
• Have an advanced directive. Let your health will be known.

7. DOCTOR PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
Professional Relationship Is
Contract FOR service
NOT
contract of service

8. CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
 Enacted in 1986
 Medical Profession included in 1992
 Opposition from the Medical Professionals.
 Increases awareness amongst the patients
 Debate for regulation for private sector

9. AREAS OF INTERVENTION
PATIENTS RIGHTS MOVEMENT
EXPERT OPINION SERVICE

10. EXPERIENCE OF ACASH
 Instigation of cases
 Communication failure
 Indiscriminate use of technology
 Lack of standards
 Poor record keeping
 Lack of easy access for redressal
 Poor infrastructure