For Patients and Visitors

Patient rights and responsibilities

As a patient:

You have entrusted us with your most valuable asset your health. We strive to provide quality care in accordance with your wishes; we are dedicated to protecting your dignity at all times.

There are also certain responsibilities that you must assume as a patient. We provide this list for your information and convenience. If you have any questions, we will be glad to answer them. Please let your caregiver know that you have a question.

You have the right:

1. To considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of your personal dignity.
2. To impartial access to all available treatment and accommodations that are medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin or sources of payment for care; in situations where the hospital does not have the capability to meet your care needs, you have the right to receive a timely, safe and appropriate transfer to another facility.
3. To obtain from your physician complete and current information concerning diagnosis, treatment and any known prognosis.
4. To have cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
5. To receive support for your psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs within the capabilities of the hospital.
6. To consent to all decisions regarding your health care, based on clear, concise explanations of your condition and all proposed technical procedures, the potential benefits and drawbacks of procedures, and any problems related to recuperation or likelihood of success. You have the right to be advised of significant alternative treatments or procedures. When appropriate, decisions on your care are to be coordinated with your family and/or representative of your choice. You have the right to be included in the planning of your care and treatment, you have the right to refuse or request treatment that is medically necessary and appropriate.
7. To know the identity and professional status of those providing service to you and the reason for their involvement in your care.
8. To have access to interpretive services, when necessary and appropriate, to prevent language barriers from hampering your care; for the hearing or visually impaired, to have access to appropriate audiovisual aids.
9. To be informed of any investigational, research or educational activities related to your treatment, as well as your right to refuse to participate in any such activity and to renew that decision periodically.
10. To be provided with information on how to formulate advanced directives for health care, so that your wishes can be respected. If you are no longer able to participate in decision-making regarding your care, you have a right to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with your advanced directive. If the hospital becomes aware of any circumstance in which a patient’s advance directive cannot be honored due to conflict with hospital policy, a physician or the Washington State Natural Death Act, the patient or surrogate decision-maker will be advised.
11. To receive appropriate end-of-life care, when warranted. This includes respectful, responsive care, which fosters your comfort and dignity, appropriately treats primary and secondary symptoms, and effectively manages pain.
12. To have a family member or representative of your choice and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
13. To be informed of all possible methods of pain relief along with favorable and unfavorable consequences.
14. To establish reasonable pain management goals and make adjustments when necessary to achieve the best results.
15. To participate as fully as possible in all treatment decisions.
16. To be provided with information on how you or your alternative decision-maker may participate in ethical questions that arise in the course of your care, including issues of conflict resolution, withholding resuscitative services, or forgoing or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
17. To be assured of the confidentiality of information in your clinical records, in accordance with applicable law.
18. To have a private, safe and secure environment for your care and treatment, free from all forms of abuse or harassment; you have the right to be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary.
19. To have access to protective and advocacy services as provided under Washington law when appropriate.
20. To refuse treatment or leave the hospital against your physician’s advice and be informed of the consequences of your action.
21. To information from hospital staff and/or your physician regarding any continued health care requirements following your discharge.
22. To a thorough explanation of your bill, regardless of payment source.
23. To information about hospital rules and regulations that affect your stay as a patient.
24. To access information, request amendment to and receive an accounting of disclosure regarding your health information.

Your responsibilities are:

• To provide complete and accurate information to the best of your knowledge regarding your medical history, including past medical records, past pain treatment and alcohol or other drug addiction history.
• To inform the health care provider, if available, of all allergies and drug side effects or concerns regarding prescription drugs.
• To refrain from using other psychoactive agents, including alcohol, alternative products or over-the-counter drugs without agreement of your physician.
• To inform the health care providers about the effectiveness and achievement of your pain management goals.
• To follow the advice of your health care team to the best of your ability and to report any change in condition to your physician or nurse.
• To inform the hospital staff when instructions to you, information provided to you, or answers to your questions are not understandable or cannot be followed.

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