A SHOT IN THE ARM
Right to information: Every patient has a right to adequate relevant information about the nature, cause of illness, provisional, confirmed diagnosis, proposed investigation and management and possible complications to be explained to at their level. It is the duty of the physician to convey the message.
Right to records & report: Right to access original copies of case papers. A photocopy should be provided.
Right to emergency medical care: Injured persons have a right to get emergency medical care, it must be initiated without demanding payment/ advance.
Right to consent: Patients consent must be sought prior to any potentially hazardous test/treatment.
Right to confidentiality, human dignity and privacy: Doctors have a duty to hold information about health condition and treatment plan in strict confidentiality, unless it is essential to communicate such information in the interest of protecting other.
Right to second opinion: Every patients has the right to seek second opinion from an appropriate clinician of patients.
Right to transparency in rates and care.
Right to non-discrimination: Right to receive treatment without any discrimination based on his/ her illness or condition, including HIV status or other health condition.
Right to safety quality care according to standards.
Right to choose alternative treatment options.
Right to choose source for obtaining medicines or tests: Right to choose any registered pharmacy of their choice.
Right to proper referral and transfer, which is free from perverse commercial influences.
Right to protection for patients involved in clinical trials: All clinical trials must be conducted in compliance with the protocols and good clinical practice guidelines issued by the Central drugs standards control organisation.
Right to protection of participants involved in biomedical and health research.
Right to take discharge of patients or receive body of deceased from hospital: A patient cannot be detained in a hospital on procedural grounds such as dispute in payments.
Right to patient education: Right to receive major facts relevant to his/her condition and healthy living practices.
Right to be heard and seek redressal: Right to give feedback, make comments, lodge complaints about the healthcare, or information and advice.