WETZEL COUNTY HOSPITAL
304-455-8000
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Patient Bill of Rights

  1. The patient has the right to considerate and professional care that respects the
    patient's personal values and cultural and spiritual beliefs.
  2. The patient has the right in making care decision, including pain management.  
    Patients and when appropriate, their families, are informed about outcomes of care,
    including unanticipated outcomes.  The patient has the right to include/exclude family
    members/significant others in decision-making and involvement of all aspects of care.
  3. The patient has the right to receive from his/her physician complete and current
    information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms that the
    patient can reasonably be expected to understand.  When it is not medically advisable
    to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to an
    appropriate person on behalf of the patient.  The patient has the right to know the
    name of the physician responsible for coordinating his/her care and any consulting
    physicians requested by the attending physician.
  4. The patient has the right to receive from his/her physician information necessary to
    give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment.  Except in
    emergencies, such information should include but not necessarily be limited to, the
    specific procedure and/or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the
    probable duration of hospitalization.  Where medically significant alternative for care
    or treatment exists, or when the patient requests information concerning alternatives,
    the patient has the right to such information.  The patient also has the right to know
    the name and the professional status of the person(s) who will be providing the
    treatment.
  5. In the case of patients under the age of eighteen (18), parents or legal guardians
    shall have the same right as the patient to the extent permitted by law.  Disputes
    between parents or between the patient and his/her legal guardian shall be resolved
    by the attending physician in consultation with the Medical Affairs Department and/or
    the Ethics Committee, as appropriate.
  6. The patient has a right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be
    informed of the medical consequences of treatment refusal.  The patient and/or
    patient surrogate also has/have the right to make informed decisions about
    resuscitative services and withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatment.
  7. The patient has the right to every consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her
    own medical care program.  Case discussion, consultation examination and
    treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly.  Those not directly
    involved in the care of the patient must have the permission of the patient to be
    present.
  8. The patient has the right to expect that all communications and record pertaining to
    his/her care will be treated as confidential.
  9. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital make a reasonable response to
    the request of a patient for services.  The hospital must provide evaluation, service or
    referral as indicated by the urgency of the situation.  When medically permissible, a
    patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete
    information and explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such
    transfer.  The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have
    accepted the patient for transfer.
  10. The patient has the right to obtain information regarding any relationship of this
    hospital to other health care and educational institutions in so far as his/her care is
    concerned.  The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any
    professional relationships among individuals, by name and professional status of
    who are treating him/her.
  11. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or
    perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment.  The patient has
    the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.  The patient has the right to
    be informed of educational relationships with institutions that may involve the patient's
    care.
  12. The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care.  He/she has the right
    to know in advance what appointments and physicians are available and where.  The
    patient has the right to expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby
    he/she is informed by the physician or designee of the patient's continuing health
    care requirements following admission.
  13. The patient has the right to access the hospital's Ethics Committee should a complex
    issue arise.  Advice and or consultation shall be available to both the patient and
    his/her physician.  The patient and his/her surrogate may request an ethics
    consultation by notifying their nurse, physician, or the hospital's social worker.
  14. The patient has the right to pain management, to be as comfortable and pain-free as
    possible.  The patient will be assessed for pain followed by appropriate pain
    management intervention.  The patient's pain will then be evaluated to ensure
    adequate pain control was achieved.
  15. The patient with special needs will be acknowledged and addressed on an individual
    basis.
  16. The patient has the right to be free from abuse and restraint.
  17. The patient has the right to a safe and secure environment, and the right to actively
    participate in maintaining that environment.
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