Patients' rights

Patients' Rights are the basic rules of conduct between patients and medical caregivers. The rights encompass standards of care, research ethics and protection for vulnerable populations, and the right to privacy, among others.

Definition

Patients' rights vary in different countries and in different jurisdictions, often depending upon prevailing cultural and social norms. Different models of patient-physician relationship—which can also represent the citizens-state relationship—have been developed, and these have informed the particular rights to which patients are entitled.

History

The concept of patients' rights was first discussed in 1948, with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declared that "everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and one's family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care."

Types of Rights

Patients' rights can be divided into three categories: rights to resources, rights to information, and rights to choice.

Rights to Resources

Patients have the right to the resources necessary for their health. This includes the right to health care services and the right to safe and clean environments.

Rights to Information

Patients have the right to all information related to their health. This includes the right to access their medical records and the right to know the risks and benefits of all treatments.

Rights to Choice

Patients have the right to make decisions about their health care. This includes the right to refuse treatment and the right to make decisions about end-of-life care.

Legal Protections

In many countries, patients' rights are protected by law. These laws often include provisions related to informed consent, confidentiality, and the right to refuse treatment.

Challenges

Despite the recognition of patients' rights, there are many challenges to their full realization. These include disparities in access to health care, cultural differences, and power imbalances between patients and health care providers.

See Also

• Health care
• Medical ethics
• Informed consent
• Confidentiality
• Right to health

References

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