Delaware Patient’s Bill Of Rights

1. A patient has the right to respectful care given by competent personnel.
2. A patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his/her attending practitioner, the names of all other practitioners directly participating in his/her care, and the names and functions of other health care persons having direct contact with patient.
3. A patient has the right to consideration of privacy concerning his/her own medical program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are considered confidential and shall be conducted discreetly.
4. A patient has the right to have records pertaining to his/her medical care treated as confidential except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangements.
5. A patient has the right to know what Ambulatory Surgical Center rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
6. The patient has the right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
7. The patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
8. The patient has the right to full information, in layman’s terms, concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give on his/her behalf to the responsible person.
9. Except for emergencies, the practitioner shall obtain the necessary informed consent prior to the start of a procedure.
10. If the patient is unable to give informed consent, a responsible person, has the right to be advised when a practitioner is considering the patient as a part of a medical care research program, and the patient, or responsible person, shall give informed consent prior to actual participation in the program.  A patient or responsible person may refuse to continue in a program to which he/she has previously given informed consent.
11. A patient has the right to refuse drugs or procedures, to the extent permitted by statute, and a practitioner shall inform the patient of the medical consequences of the patient’s refusal of drugs or procedures.
12. A patient has the right to medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, disability, or source of payment.
13. A patient who does not speak English shall have access, where possible, to an interpreter.
14. The Ambulatory Surgical Center shall provide the patient, or patient designee, upon request, access to the information contained in his/her medical records, unless access is specifically restricted by the attending practitioner for medical reasons.
15. A patient has the right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within the Ambulatory Surgical Center.  These techniques shall make effective use of the time of the patient and avoid the personal discomfort of the patient.
16. When an emergency occurs and a patient is transferred to another facility, the responsible person shall be notified. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred shall be notified prior to the patient’s transfer.
17. A patient has the right to examine and receive a detailed explanation of his /her bill.
18. A patient has the right to expect that the Ambulatory Surgical Center will provide information for continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
19. A patient has the right to be informed of his/her rights at the time of admission.
20. Patients have the right to change their primary or specialty physician if other qualified physicians are available.
21. Patients have the right to refuse to participate in experimental research.
22. Patients have the right to voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the facilities staff, the operator, and state department of health without fear of reprisal.