Patient Rights & Responsibilities

• Each Patient has the right to be treated with respect and recognition of his or her dignity and need for privacy.
• Each Patient seeking advice or assistance has the right to be assisted in a prompt, courteous, and responsible manner.
• Each Patient has the right to be provided with information concerting his or her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms that are understandable to him or her. When it is not medically advisable or feasible to be given to the Patient, the information will be made available to the next-of-kin or other person designated by the Patient, except when existing laws do not permit the release of information without the written consent of the Patient.
• Each Patient has the right to decline treatment. In this event, the Patient has the right to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In the care of a Patient who is mentally incapable of making a rational decision, approval will he obtained from the Guardian, next-of-kin, or other person legally entitled to give such approval.
• Each Patient has the right to have his or her medical record and all other information held confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by Pain Medicine Consultants, the law, or if he or she consents to its release.
• In the event of any experimental/investigational procedures (e.g., research), the Patient will be provided with an informed consent. The Patient has the right to not be included in the investigational procedure if such information/consent is not given. No attempt will be made to influence the Patient to give consent if he or she is reluctant to participate. In the case of Patients who are considered mentally incapable of executing an informed consent, approval will he obtained from the Guardian, next-of-kin, or other person legally entitled to give consent.
• Each Patient has the right to he provided with appropriate guidance and recommendations for additional medical care if coverage is terminated.
• Each patient has the responsibility to be considerate and respectful of all treatment staff.
• Each Patent has the responsibility to cooperate with his or her treatment staff. If the Patient has questions or disagrees with the treatment plan, he or she has the responsibility to discuss it with his or her treatment staff.
• Each Patient has the responsibility to keep all scheduled diagnostic or treatment appointments on time.
• Each Patient has the responsibility to provide, to the extent possible, information needed by the treatment staff to care for him or her.
• Each Patient has the responsibility to follow instructions and guidelines given by the treatment staff.
• Each Patient has the responsibility to understand what medications he or she is taking and whether he or she is scheduled for follow-up visits.
• Each Patient has the responsibility to be considerate of other Patents and to be undemanding and tolerant if delays are encountered.
• Each patient has the responsibility to express opinions, concerns, or complaints regarding his or her health care and rights and responsibilities in a constructive manner to Pain Medicine Consultants.