Patient Bill of Rights & Responsibilities

The purpose of this document is to explain your rights and responsibilities as a patient of the Northumberland Hills Hospital. Knowing and understanding your rights and responsibilities will make your relationship with your health care providers a mutually beneficial one.

Patient's Rights

• The right to be treated with respect, consideration, dignity and compassion without discrimination as guaranteed by the Ontario Human Rights Code
• The right to receive medical advice and treatment that fully meets the currently accepted standards of care and quality
• The right to receive clear and complete information about your medical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis
• The right to know the name of any medication prescribed to you, and its normal actions and potential side effects given your condition
• The right to participate in all decisions about your treatment and discharge from the hospital
• The right to accept or refuse any medication or treatment, and to be informed of the likely consequences of doing so
• The right to be informed of the name and position of the practitioner in charge of your care at the hospital, as well as any other health care worker who provides treatment to you during your stay
• The right to make a complaint through channels provided for this purpose by the hospital authority, and to have any complaint dealt with promptly and fairly
• The right to enjoy a "smoke-free" environment
• The right to privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your care

Patient's Responsibilities

• The responsibility to request further information concerning anything not fully understood
• The responsibility to provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, allergies, hospitalization, medication and other matters relating to your health
• The responsibility to follow the treatment plan, as outlined by your health care practitioner, including the instructions of nurses and health personnel carrying out your co-ordinated plan of care
• The responsibility to be accountable for your actions if you deliberately refuse treatment or do not follow practitioner's instructions
• The responsibility to keep appointments, and when unable to do so, to notify the hospital with sufficient time to reschedule
• The responsibility to follow hospital rules and regulations regarding patient care and conduct
• The responsibility to assist in the control of noise and number of visitors
• The responsibility to discourage friends and family from visiting if they are sick or have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as the chicken pox
• The responsibility to comply with the hospital's "no smoking" policy, and assist staff in their effort to provide a smoke-free environment for all
• The responsibility to be respectful of the rights and property of other patients, visitors and staff of the hospital

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