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Summary
As a patient, you have certain rights. Some are guaranteed by federal law, such as the right to get a copy of your medical records, and the right to keep them private. Many states have additional laws protecting patients, and health care facilities often have a patient bill of rights.
An important patient right is informed consent. This means that if you need a treatment, your health care provider must give you the information you need to make a decision.
Many hospitals have patient advocates who can help you if you have problems. Many states have an ombudsman office for problems with long term care. Your state's department of health may also be able to help.
Related Issues
-
Informed Consent
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Informed Consent (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Rights and Responsibilities of VA Patients and Residents of Community Living Centers (Department of Veterans Affairs)
Specifics
- Your Medicare Rights (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Informed Consent
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
- Find the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in Your State (National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care)
Patient Handouts
- Informed consent - adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish