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Patient's Bill of Rights

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is committed to the basic rights of the children and families it serves. Those rights apply to the patient and/or parents and/or guardian, as appropriate for the age and level of understanding of the child. These rights include:

  1. The right to respectful care given by competent personnel.
  2. The right to know the identity of those providing treatment.
  3. The right to every consideration of privacy concerning medical care. Case discussions, consultations, examinations, and treatments are confidential and are to be conducted with respect and discretion.
  4. The right to confidentiality of medical records except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangements.
  5. The right to be informed of Hospital rules and regulations applicable to the patient's conduct.
  6. The right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
  7. The right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
  8. The right to full information, in layman's terms, concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on the patient's behalf to the patient's next-of-kin or other appropriate person
  9. The right to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment, except in emergency situations. Informed consent is defined in Section 103 of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P.S. 1301.103).
  10. The right to be advised when a physician is considering the patient as part of a medical care research program or donor program, and to give informed consent prior to actual participation in such a program. In the event that the patient is unable to give informed consent, a legally responsible party shall exercise these rights on the patient's behalf. The patient or the legally responsible party may, at any time, refuse to continue in such a program to which he or she has previously given informed consent.
  11. The right to refuse any drug, treatment or procedure offered by the Hospital, to the extent permitted by law, and the right to be informed by a physician of the medical consequences of such refusal of any drug, treatment or procedure. If such refusal prevents adequate medical care, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.
  12. The right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at the patient's request and own expense.
  13. The right to impartial access to treatment and care without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or source of payment.
  14. The right to access to all information contained in the medical record, unless such access is specifically restricted by the attending physician for medical reasons or is prohibited by law.
  15. The right to communication with others outside the Hospital and access to an interpreter if necessary.
  16. The right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within the Hospital, considering effective use of the time of the patient and avoiding unnecessary personal discomfort of the patient.
  17. The right to an explanation for transfer to another facility, including the need for an alternative to such transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
  18. The right to know the Hospital charges and to examine and receive a detailed explanation of the bill.
  19. The right to full information and counseling on the availability of known financial resources for health care.
  20. The right to expect that information concerning continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them will be provided.
  21. The right of access to an individual or agency authorized to act on the patient's behalf to assert or protect the rights herein set forth.
  22. The right to be informed of these rights at the earliest possible moment during the course of hospitalization.
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