Know Your Rights as a Patient in the USA – Vol. 502, June 13, 2019
During the past month, I have been taking a course on the legal aspects of medical ethics. There is a reason why we need to all be aware of our rights and that has to do with the fact that over the many years, people have had treatments that they never agreed to, experiments done on them that they had no idea was occurring and lesser treatment because of being a minority or in a lower economic class. So, here are your rights as a patient. They have been hard won, so take them seriously and respect them for your greatest good.
Your first right is that of respect for others. In the area of medical treatment, this is your right to autonomy, meaning that you have the right to make decisions regarding what is done with your own body. You also have the right to beneficence, meaning that treatment is to be given to help lessen any distress or pain that you may be experiencing from your medical condition regardless of your ability to pay. Nonmaleficense is a term that means that any benefit of treatment must outweigh the harm that can be done by that treatment because many treatments have risks associated with them. You are entitled to the justice of having the necessary care given to you without suffering any discrimination. You also have a right to the confidentiality of your medical information. Lastly, you have a right to fidelity, meaning that your medical providers will perform their duty while keeping their word and promises to you.
Now that you have a basic understanding of your ethical rights in how your medical treatment is to be delivered, I will explain why informed consent is required for your safety and the many issues it involves. However, the most important concept for you to understand is that you being an adult and of sound mind, have the right to determine what is done with your body. You have the right to have a treatment that is based on your beliefs, values and treatment options, with the right to accept the treatment or reject the treatment. The exception to that rule is if you are found unconscious in a state of emergency where an operation is required to save your life. With that in mind, it is important for you to understand what constitutes informed consent and what falls short of being informed consent.
First, it is the physician that has the obligation to explain to you what the procedure is that he is advising, the risks involved in the treatment, and any alternative medical treatment available in language that you can understand. If you as the patient fully understand the risk of the treatment and give consent, you are required to sign the consent form. The physician can appoint another person on your health care team to get your signature, but only with the knowledge that the physician has completely explained the procedure to you, and that you understand the risks involved and the outcome of the procedure.
If you are from a non-English speaking background, you are never to feel pressured into signing an informed consent form. It is up to the physician to have a health interpreter explain the procedure and the risks involved in your native language so that you can give informed consent.
All informed consent for procedures must be done in written form with your signature. Included in the informed consent form will be the nature of your condition, the proposed treatment, procedure, examination or test, the risks of the treatment, any alternatives you may have for your treatment and the outcomes of the treatment. Informed consent is your agreement to allow surgery or other invasive procedure to be performed on you. The consent must be given before any pre-medication or mind-altering substances are taken. Lastly, the only surgery to be performed is that which you have signed the informed consent form to receive.
The procedures that require informed consent are surgical, endoscopic, biopsies radiation, some blood tests, chemotherapies, and most vaccinations. Informed consent is also required If you are participating in a research study involving experimental drugs . Informed consent is given after the disclosure of the study-specific information has been explained to the participants.
You have very strong rights where informed consent is concerned with legal ramifications if it is found that you have not received all the information that you require to make an informed decision in language that you fully understand. Some of these could be loss of licensure, negative accreditation for both the healthcare provider and the institution where the treatment occurred.
Receiving healthcare today with all the fancy technology and new medications can be both complicated and intimidating. Always remember that it is up to your physician and your treatment team to work with you to make the best decisions that you can for the best outcome for your health and wellbeing. Ask as many questions as you need, so that you are as certain as you can be that you made the correct decision for yourself.
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About Suzanne
Suzanne Kellner-Zinck founded Dawning Visions Hypnosis in 2002, She has become an innovator in the use of hypnotism and neuro-linguistic programming in the areas of obsessive compulsive disorders such as: eating disorders, sexual addiction and substance abuse as well as working with those with anxiety and mood disorders.
Her clients have come to work with her from across the United States and as far away as Africa to help them to finally be freed from these emotional issues that once ruled their lives. Today she is in the process of bringing her work to many more in the form of ebooks and other downloadable formats.
She is a member of American Holistic Medical Association and the American College for Advancement in Medicine.
Prior to founding Dawning Visions Hypnosis, Kellner-Zinck worked within vendor programs for the mentally ill working to help them to live up to their fullest potential. Many of her previous clients were able to move out on their own and find fulfilling work.
Kellner-Zinck is a Certified Trainer of Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programing through Tad James Company, Inc. and a Master Hypnotist and Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming through Advanced Neuro Dynamics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and political studies from Curry College.
Dawning Visions Hypnosis is teaching people that they can indeed leave their unwanted behaviors behind as they move forward to living fulfilling and joy filled lives.