Patient Bill of Rights - Essay Example

Patient Rights Gabrielle Gosbin Rutgers Camden Patient Rights For quite a long time, it has been an aspiration of the US government t to provide quality healthcare to the citizens. Initial attempts to meet this objective were however not successful, prompting adoption of The Patient Bill of Rights, a multi-faceted list of rules that have to either be met or provided to patients by healthcare providers and facilities. These rules cover many avenues to ensure the patient will be treated fairly and in a safe manner. Upon admission to any licensed healthcare facility. It is however sad to note that many patients are yet to completely understand the proposals contained in the bill of rights, the result of which has been mistreatment of patients by medical practitioners employed within the facilities. The Bills vary marginally from facility to facility and from state to state, but still cover the same rules and regulations and are like laws set in motion to cover patients, healthcare professionals and providers. In this case, the fundamental principles covered within The Patient Bill of Rights will be explored Background Information The Patient Bill of Rights was adopted by the American Hospital Situation in 1973 and revised in October of 1992. This was in attempts by the government to ensure that patients seeking medical attention are accorded safe and fair treatments, no matter their situation. Since its enactment, the bill has been viewed as an umbrella covering the patient from a wide array of uncertainties that have often arouse great concerns with regards to age, sex and gender. The Patient Bill of Rights should be explained and a copy should be given to a patient upon admission to the care facility. Upon admission to the healthcare facility, it is a fundamental requirement of the US law that the institution provides the patient with a copy of the facility’s Patient Bill of Rights. The healthcare professional giving the patient a copy of the bill, usually a registrar or secretary, is required to is mandated to inquire whether there are concerns with regards to Patient Rights. In any case, patient concerns and inquiries must be promptly answered and acted upon. The law recognizes that the practitioners may at times not be in a proper position to answer certain issues raised by the patients. As a result, it is proposed that the patient care representative be contacted to directly speak to the patient. It is hence necessary that the representative explains the concerns in a simple understandable manner. Financially, the most Patient Rights Bills stipulate that the patient has right to reasonable charge estimate to enable them determine their capability to afford treatments on offer, or seek alternative treatments (Missouri Clinic, 2014). Fundamental Requirements of the Bill It is sad to note that in olden day, patients were obtain very little regards from health practitioners, some of whom were observed to subject them to mistreatment. In some cases, it was observed that many patient deaths originated from ignorance of healthcare professionals, with most nurses blamed for paying less attention to client needs. As such, many health institutions have since stepped up patient care services, spearheaded by the adoption of Patient Rights Bill. Despite the many variations that occur within the bills in different medical firms, virtually all the institutions stress on the right of patients to respectful and considerate care. In addition, it is necessary that the patient be empowered with all the vital information regarding their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. The only exceptional instances when this fundamental requirement may be denied, according to The Board of Medical Examiners (2010), is when the client is critically ill and hence in need of specialized urgent attention. With the current diverse healthcare sector, it is highly recommended that the patient be know their healthcare providers, and in some instances even turn down recommended treatments if they feel against such medications. Such medical practitioners must be qualified professionals, and must be in a position to effectively communicate with the client. Patient privacy is a fundamental requirement that must be ensured at all costs. As a result, all patient records must be kept private and protected unless the law compels the institution to make such records public. It is worth noting that treatments may at time go against the stipulated schedule and consequently gives unexpected results. Such an instance may prompt the facility to recommend referral service. In such an instance, it is necessary that the patient is promptly informed of all the proceeding and schedule. According to various reports, concerns have been raised on the place of discrimination in delivery of healthcare services. Consequently, it is necessary that laws are enacted compelling delivery of health services to the patients in a free and fair manner, regardless of their gender, race, nationality or religious affiliation (The Board of Medical Examiners, 2010). Despite of the main emphasis being laid on the role of the healthcare provider in ensuring quality services are provided to the patients, it is important to note that the bills stipulate clear guidelines that the patients must follow to guarantee their safety. For the sake of clear diagnosis, it is required that the patient provides true and accurate information, with enhanced level of honesty. It is also necessary that they speak out when treatments are either posing adverse effects or are against their personal social or religious principles. It is with great concern that medics have often reported instances of patients discontinuing treatments without prior consultations. According to Maryland Department of Health & Hygiene (2012), patients should always speak their opinions on treatments. The patient should as well respect all the healthcare staff rendering their services to them. This will consequently help to alleviate instances of misunderstandings which have often led to nurses neglecting certain patients, citing their foul mouth as a key factor. Conclusion In conclusion, The Patient Bill of Rights is a necessity in any healthcare settings. This not only protects the patient but also the professionals involved in delivering the services to the clients. It has since enactment served as protection for nurses during situations that maybe seen as malpractice by a patient. In addition, the bill is also in place to make sure proper and appropriate care is rendered to the patient by the healthcare professionals in a timely and professional manner. The Patient Bill of Rights instructs and directs the nurses and doctors as to what is expected from them during certain situations. Healthcare providers and professionals can and will be held accountable, if they do not follow their facility’s Patient Bill of Rights. References The Board of Medical Examiners. (July 1, 2010). Patients’ bill of rights. New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs State Board of Medical Examiners. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/bme/statreg/patientrights.htm Maryland Department of Health & Hygiene. (October 2012). Patient bill of rights and responsibilities. The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/the_johns_hopkins_hospital/_docs/bill_of_rights.pdf Missouri Clinic. (2014). Patient bill of rights. Omni Health Media. Retrieved from http://missouricancer.com/about-us/patient-bill-of-rights/ Read More