Patient's Rights and Responsibilties:

PATIENT’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE BEST AND MOST RESPONSIBLE MEDICAL TREATMENT AVAILABLE BY US WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF ETHNIC OR NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION, OR ADDICTION(S) HISTORY. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO HAVE TESTS AND PROCEDURES EXPLAINED TO YOU IN LANGUAGE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE BEING PRESCRIBED TO YOU, TO FULL DISCLOSURE ABOUT TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS, AND TO A FRANK DISCUSSION OF THE PROS AND CONS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TEST AND TREATMENT FOR ANY REASON. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A SECOND OPINION AND TO SEEK ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE A PERSON – NOT AN EXPERIMENT, CURIOSITY OR TEACHING “VISUAL AID”. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HONESTY, PRIVACY (TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE), AND CONSIDERATE, DIGNIFIED, AND REPECTFUL CARE AND TREATMENT FROM ALL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WITH WHOM YOU COME INTO CONTACT. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO COMPLAIN TO MANAGEMENT WHEN THESE STANDARDS ARE NOT MET. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE WHOMEVER YOU WANT WITH YOU WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONFIDENTIALITY. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN YOUR PHYSICIAN OR IN SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENTS AS YOU SEE FIT. BY THE SAME TOKEN: YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE HONEST WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENTS YOU MAY BE USING, RISKS YOU MAY BE TAKING AND SEXUAL AND/OR OTHER PRACTICES THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR HEALTH, AND ALSO, ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG USE. YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE PRESCRIPTIONS AS DIRECTED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN – AND TO SPEAK UP IF THEY ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR YOU, OR IF YOU DECIDE TO DISCONTINUE TAKING THEM. YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TREAT YOUR DOCTOR LIKE A PERSON – NOT LIKE AN OPPRESSOR OR GOD. YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND A DOCTOR WHO WILL WORK WITH YOU ON YOUR TERMS – EVEN IF THAT MEANS SWITCHING DOCTORS MORE THAN ONCE. YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND.