Patient Rights

As a patient in a hospital in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:

1. Understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand or you need help, the hospital MUST provide assistance, including an interpreter.
2. Receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age or source of payment.
3. Receive considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment free of unnecessary
4. Receive emergency care if you need  
5. Be informed of the name and position of the doctor who will be in charge of your care in the
6. Know the names, positions and functions of any hospital staff involved in your care and refuse their treatment, examination or
7. Identify a caregiver who will be included in your discharge planning and sharing of post-discharge care information or
8. Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and  
9. Receive all the information that you need to give informed consent for any proposed procedure or treatment. This information shall include the possible risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment.
10. Receive all the information you need to give informed consent for an order not to resuscitate. You also have the right to designate an individual to give this consent for you if you are too ill to do so. If you would like additional information, please ask for a copy of the pamphlet “Deciding About Health Care - A Guide for Patients and Families.”
11. Refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.
12. Refuse to take part in research. In deciding whether or not to participate, you have the right to a full
13. Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your
14. Participate in all decisions about your treatment and discharge from the The hospital must provide you with a written discharge plan and written description of how you can appeal your  discharge.
15. Review your medical record without charge and, obtain a copy of your medical record for which the hospital can charge a reasonable fee. You cannot be denied a copy solely because you cannot afford to
16. Receive an itemized bill and explanation of all  
17. View a list of the hospital’s standard charges for items and services and the health plans the hospital participates
18. Challenge an unexpected bill through the Independent Dispute Resolution
19. Complain without fear of reprisals about the care and services you are receiving and to have the hospital respond to you and if you request it, a written response. If you are not satisfied with the hospital’s response, you can complain to the New York State Health Department. The hospital must provide you with the State Health Department telephone number.
20. Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive
21. Make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. Persons sixteen years of age or older may document their consent to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissues, upon their death, by enrolling in the NYS Donate Life Registry or by documenting their authorization for organ and/or tissue donation in writing in a number of ways (such as a health care proxy, will, donor card, or other signed paper). The health care proxy is available from the hospital.

Public Health Law (PHL)2803 (1)(g)Patient’s Rights, 10NYCRR, 405.7,405.7(a)(1),405.7(c)

As a patient in a Clinic in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:

1. Receive service(s) without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, gender identity, national origin or sponsor;
2. Be treated with consideration, respect and dignity including privacy in treatment;
3. Be informed of the services available at the center;
4. Be informed of the provisions for off-hour emergency coverage;
5. Be informed of and receive an estimate of the charges for services, view a list of the health plans and the hospitals that the center participates with; eligibility for third-party reimbursements and, when applicable, the availability of free or reduced cost  care;
6. Receive an itemized copy of his/her account statement, upon  request;
7. Obtain from his/her health care practitioner, or the health care practitioner’s delegate, complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to  understand;
8. Receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any nonemergency procedure or treatment or An informed consent shall include, as a minimum, the provision of information concerning the specific procedure or treatment or both, the reasonably foreseeable risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment, if any, as a reasonable medical practitioner under similar circumstances would disclose in a manner permitting the patient to make a knowledgeable decision;
9. Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be fully informed of the medical consequences of his/her action;
10. Refuse to participate in experimental research;
11. Voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the center’s staff, the operator and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal;
12. Express complaints about the care and services provided and to have the center investigate such complaints. The center is responsible for providing the patient or his/her designee with a written response within 30 days if requested by the patient indicating the findings of the investigation. The center is also responsible for notifying the patient or his/her designee that if the patient is not satisfied by the center response, the patient may complain to the New York State Department of  Health;
13. Privacy and confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to the patient’s treatment;
14. Approve or refuse the release or disclosure of the contents of his/her medical record to any health-care practitioner and/or health-care facility except as required by law or third-party payment contract;
15. Access to his/her medical record per Section 18 of the Public Health Law, and Subpart 50-3. For additional information link to: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1449/section_1.htm#access;
16. Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors;
17. When applicable, make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. Persons sixteen years of age or older may document their consent to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissues, upon their death, by enrolling in the NYS Donate Life Registry or by documenting their authorization for organ and/or tissue donation in writing in a number of ways (such as health care proxy, will, donor card, or other signed paper). The health care proxy is available from the center;
18. View a list of the health plans and the hospitals that the center participates with; and
19. Receive an estimate of the amount that you will be billed after services are rendered.

Patients’ Rights, 10NYCRR, Section 751.9

As a parent, legal guardian or person with decision-making authority for a pediatric patient receiving care in this hospital, you have the right, consistent with the law, to the following:

1. To inform the hospital of the name of your child’s primary care provider, if known, and have this information documented in your child’s medical
2. To be assured our hospital will only admit pediatric patients to the extent consistent with our hospital’s ability to provide qualified staff, space and size appropriate equipment necessary for the unique needs of pediatric
3. To allow at least one parent or guardian to remain with your child at all times, to the extent possible given your child’s health and safety  
4. That all test results completed during your child’s admission or emergency room visit be reviewed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who is familiar with your child’s presenting
5. For your child not to be discharged from our hospital or emergency room until any tests that could reasonably be expected to yield critical value results are reviewed by a physician, physician assistant, and/or nurse practitioner and communicated to you or other decision makers, and your child, if appropriate. Critical value results are results that suggest a life- threatening or otherwise significant condition that requires immediate medical
6. For your child not to be discharged from our hospital or emergency room until you or your child, if appropriate, receives a written discharge plan, which will also be verbally
7. Communicated to you and your child or other medical decision makers. The written discharge plan will specifically identify any critical results of laboratory or other diagnostic tests ordered during your child’s stay and will identify any other tests that have not yet been concluded.
8. To be provided critical value results and the discharge plan for your child in a manner that reasonably ensures that you, your child (if appropriate), or other medical decision makers understand the health information provided in order to make appropriate health
9. For your child’s primary care provider, if known, to be provided all laboratory results of this hospitalization or emergency room
10. To request information about the diagnosis or possible diagnoses that were considered during this episode of care and complications that could develop as well as information about any contact that was made with your child’s primary care
11. To be provided, upon discharge of your child from the hospital or emergency department, with a phone number that you can call for advice in the event that complications or questions arise concerning your child’s

Public Health Law (PHL) 2803(i)(g) Patients’ Rights 10NYCRR, Section 405.7

As a patient in a hospital in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:

1. Understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand or you need help, the hospital MUST provide assistance, including an interpreter.
2. Receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, source of payment, or age.
3. Receive considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment free of unnecessary restraints
4. Receive emergency care if you need it.
5. Be informed of the name and position of the doctor who will be in charge of your care in the hospital.
6. Know the names, positions and functions of any hospital staff involved in your care and refuse their treatment, examination or observation.
7. A non-smoking environment.
8. Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
9. Receive all the information that you need to give informed consent for any proposed procedure or treatment. This information shall include the possible risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment.
10. Receive all the information you need to give informed consent for an order not to resuscitate. You also have the right to designate an individual to give this consent for you if you are too ill to do so. If you would like additional information, please ask for a copy of the pamphlet “Deciding About Health Care — A Guide for Patients and Families.”
11. Refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.
12. Refuse to take part in research. In deciding whether or not to participate, you have the right to a full explanation.
13. Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your care.
14. Participate in all decisions about your treatment and discharge from the hospital. The hospital must provide you with a written discharge plan and written description of how you can appeal your discharge.
15. Identify a caregiver who will be included in your discharge planning and sharing of post-discharge care information or instruction.
16. Review your medical record without charge. Obtain a copy of your medical record for which the hospital can charge a reasonable fee. You cannot be denied a copy solely because you cannot afford to pay.
17. Receive an itemized bill and explanation of all charges.
18. View a list of the hospital’s standard charges for items and services and the health plans the hospital participates with.
19. You have a right to challenge an unexpected bill through the Independent Dispute Resolution process.
20. Complain without fear of reprisals about the care and services you are receiving and to have the hospital respond to you and if you request it, a written response. If you are not satisfied with the hospital’s response, you can complain to the New York State Health Department. The hospital must provide you with the State Health Department telephone number.
21. Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors.
22. Make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. You may document your wishes in your health care proxy or on a donor card, available from the hospital.

Public Health Law(PHL)2803 (1)(g)Patient’s Rights, 10NYCRR, 405.7,405.7(a)(1),405.7(c)