Your rights & responsibilities

Your rights as a patient

• To be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation for your dignity and protection of your privacy.
• To receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
• To know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for your care.
• To know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available.
• To bring a person of your choosing into patient-accessible areas while receiving outpatient treatment or consulting with a provider, unless doing so creates a health or safety risk or cannot reasonably be accommodated.
• To know the rules and regulations that apply to your conduct.
• To receive information about your diagnosis, planned treatment, alternatives, risks and prognosis, except as otherwise permitted by law.
• To refuse treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
• To receive, upon request, information about known financial resources available for your care.
• If eligible for Medicare, to know upon request and before treatment whether the provider accepts the Medicare assignment rate.
• To receive, upon request and before treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
• To receive a reasonably clear itemized bill and, upon request, an explanation of charges.
• To impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations regardless of race, national origin, religion, disability or source of payment.
• To treatment for an emergency medical condition that would deteriorate without treatment.
• To know if proposed treatment is experimental research and to consent or refuse participation.
• To express grievances about possible violations of your rights through the clinic’s grievance process and to the appropriate licensing agency.

Your responsibilities as a patient

• Provide accurate and complete information, to the best of your knowledge, about current complaints, prior illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters related to your health.
• Report unexpected changes in your condition.
• Tell the health care provider whether you understand the proposed plan and what is expected of you.
• Follow the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
• Keep appointments and notify the clinic when you cannot attend.
• Accept responsibility for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow instructions.
• Meet financial obligations for your care as promptly as possible.
• Follow clinic rules affecting patient care and conduct.

Source: section 381.026, Florida Statutes.