Delhi: Listing the rights of patients in hospitals, the Central Government of India emphasised that hospitals cannot deny disclosing details about the disease and diagnostic reports to the concerned patients.
Delhi: Listing the rights of patients in hospitals, the Central Government of India emphasised that hospitals cannot deny disclosing details about the disease and diagnostic reports to the concerned patients.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had submitted the charter to the Health Ministry, which it had put out in the public domain in September, 2018, inviting suggestions and comments from the public and stakeholders. The Union Health Secretary, Preeti Sudan has now urged all States to adopt recommendations of the National Council for Clinical Establishments on patients' rights which ensures that patients have the right to second opinion, adequate information about their illness and informed consent. The National Council's recommendations are based on draft charter on patients' rights prepared by the NHRC. Owing to the numerous complaints received with regard to malpractices in hospitals, the National Council for Clinical Establishments discussed them at its 11th meeting and sent certain recommendations across for States and Union Territories to follow.
Key recommendations listed in the Patients' Rights include:
* Hospitals should not refuse to hand over the patient's body for any reason.
* Patients and their representatives have the right to receive information about the patient, disease and the cause of it, suggested tests and aftercare, benefits of the treatment, expected complications and the estimated cost for the procedure.
* Patients and their family members are entitled to receive original or duplicate documentation of the disease, case documents, examination reports, bill of information, payment details for each service and facility.
* Hospitals should get approval from the patients before any specific examination or treatment. In any case, patients have the right to get a second opinion, and if they wish so, without any delay or charges, the hospitals should provide necessary documents and information.
* All patients have privacy rights. It is the doctor's duty to keep the patient's health and treatment details confidential.
*Whenever a male doctor conducts a physical examination on a female patient, he must make sure that a female doctor accompanies him.
These recommendations were highlighted to educate patients on their medical rights in any hospital and to encourage them to exercise their rights.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had submitted the charter to the Health Ministry, which it had put out in the public domain in September, 2018, inviting suggestions and comments from the public and stakeholders. The Union Health Secretary, Preeti Sudan has now urged all States to adopt recommendations of the National Council for Clinical Establishments on patients' rights which ensures that patients have the right to second opinion, adequate information about their illness and informed consent. The National Council's recommendations are based on draft charter on patients' rights prepared by the NHRC. Owing to the numerous complaints received with regard to malpractices in hospitals, the National Council for Clinical Establishments discussed them at its 11th meeting and sent certain recommendations across for States and Union Territories to follow.
Key recommendations listed in the Patients' Rights include:
* Hospitals should not refuse to hand over the patient's body for any reason.
* Patients and their representatives have the right to receive information about the patient, disease and the cause of it, suggested tests and aftercare, benefits of the treatment, expected complications and the estimated cost for the procedure.
* Patients and their family members are entitled to receive original or duplicate documentation of the disease, case documents, examination reports, bill of information, payment details for each service and facility.
* Hospitals should get approval from the patients before any specific examination or treatment. In any case, patients have the right to get a second opinion, and if they wish so, without any delay or charges, the hospitals should provide necessary documents and information.
* All patients have privacy rights. It is the doctor's duty to keep the patient's health and treatment details confidential.
*Whenever a male doctor conducts a physical examination on a female patient, he must make sure that a female doctor accompanies him.
These recommendations were highlighted to educate patients on their medical rights in any hospital and to encourage them to exercise their rights.