Patients to be told rights

Press, 26 November 1979, Page 6

Patients to be told rights

All patients in hospitals run by the North Canterbury Hospital Board will soon be given a statement of their rights and responsibilities. The statement will be similar to a code of patients’ rights issued by hospital boards in Wellington and Auckland. It was approved by the heads of all hospital departments in Christchurch after 18 months of discussion. The statement will be inI eluded in a new edition of i the hospital board's hand-

book, which is given to patients. It says patients are entitled to receive considerate and respectful care, to be provided on request with the names of the people involved in their treatment, and to be told about their illness, what is to be done for them, and • what is likely to happen. They are also entitled to expect reasonable privacy and to be asked for their consent for any surgical operation. Patients mav leave a hospital voluntarily but at their own risk.

Of research and teaching programmes the statement says patients are entitled to be made aware of any involvement in these and of their right to decline to participate. Any comments or complaints about treatment or procedures must first be discussed with the staff involved in a patient’s treatment. An appointment will be made on request for a patient to see the principal nurse or medical superintendent. The statement says

patients must advise hospital staff if they do not understand what they have been told about their treatment and care. They must also tell staff of any known changes in their health. Consideration and respect for other patients and staff and observation of hospial rules are expected. Changes will be made in the clause dealing with the rights of patients to leave hospitals voluntarily in the statement to be given to patients in psychiatric hospitals and wards.