Patient Rights

SMMC recognizes and adheres to the following list of individual patient rights:

• Patients have the right to treatment without discrimination as to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or source of payment. Each patient has a right to have his or her cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
• Patients, or the patient’s surrogate, as appropriate, are involved in decisions about care, treatment and services provided.
• Patients have the right to information from the physician, or other health care professional, necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment, including an explanation of the procedure or treatment, benefits, medically significant risks or serious side effects and any medically significant alternatives for care or treatment.
• Consent is obtained for recording or filming made for purposes other than the identification, diagnosis or treatment of the patient.
• Patients receive adequate information about the person(s), including the name/s, who are responsible for the delivery of their care treatment and services.
• Patients have the right to refuse care, treatment and services in accordance with law and regulation, and be informed of the medical consequence of refusal.
• SMMC addresses the wishes of the patient relating to end-of-life decisions. Patients have the right to formulate an Advance Directive, and/or appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions to the extent permitted by law. Care will not be compromised based on the treatment decisions.
• Patients, and when appropriate, their families, are informed about the outcomes of care, treatment and services, including unanticipated outcomes.
• The hospital respects the patient’s right to and need for effective communication. Patients have the right to interpretive services and other auxiliary aids.
• Patients have the right to be informed of policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment responsibilities, and resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts through patient advocates, ethics committees, or other mechanisms available within SMMC, without fear of reprisal.
• SMMC respects the needs of patients for confidentiality, privacy and security.
• Patients have a right to an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
• Patients have the right to be free from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Patients have the right to pain management.
• Patients have a right to access protective and advocacy services.
• SMMC protects research subject and respects their rights during research, investigation and clinical trials involving human subject.
• Patients receive information about charges for which they will be responsible regardless of the source of payment. Patients have the right to receive information on the availability of financial assistance.

Safety Rights:

• Ask questions if you are concerned about your health and safety.
• Verify the site/side of the body that will be operated on prior to a procedure.
• Remind staff to check your identification before medications are given, blood/blood products are administered, blood samples are obtained, or prior to any invasive procedure.
• Remind your care-givers to wash their hands prior to giving care.
• Be informed about which medications you are taking and why you are taking them.

Patient Responsibilities

In order to be able to provide the highest quality care, SMMC has the following expectations of individual patient responsibilities:

• Patients and families, as appropriate, must provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalization, medications and other matters relating to their health. Patients and their families must report perceived risks in their care and unexpected changes in their condition. They can help the hospital understand their environment by providing feedback about service needs and expectations.
• Patients and their families, as appropriate, must ask questions when they do not understand their care, treatment and service, or what they are expected to do.
• Patients and their families must follow the care, treatment and service plan developed. They should express any concerns about their ability to follow the proposed care plan or course of care, treatment and services. The hospital makes every effort to adapt the plan to the specific needs and limitations of the patients. When such adaptations to the care, treatment and service plan are not recommended, patients and their families are informed of the consequences of the care, treatment and service alternatives, and not following the proposed course.
• Patients and their families are responsible for the outcomes if they do not follow the care, treatment and service plan.
• Patients and their families must follow the hospital’s rules and regulations.
• Patients and their families must be considerate of the hospital’s staff and property, as well as other patients and their property.
• Patients and their families should promptly meet any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital.