YOUR RIGHTS AS A PATIENT

As a patient at Calamba Doctors’ Hospital, we strive hard to keep you well informed, encourage your participation in your treatment choices, and urge you to communicate openly with your health care team. As a patient and as a partner, we encourage you to know your rights as well as your responsibilities during your stay at our hospital, as follows:

• Right to quality medical care
• Right to freedom of choice
• Right to self-determination
• Right to information
• Right to confidentiality
• Right to health education
• Right to dignity
• Right to religious assistance

 

Right to Quality Medical Care

Every person is entitled to appropriate medical care and continuity of health care. He/She has the right to be cared for by a physician whom he/she knows is free to make clinical and ethical judgments without any outside interference. He/she is always treated in accordance with his/her best interests and in accordance with generally approved medical principles. The physicians are ultimately responsible for delivery of quality medical services.

Right to Freedom of Choice

Every person has the right to choose his/her physician (subject to Calamba Doctors’ Hospital policies and procedures) and hospital, and has the right to ask for the opinion of another physician at any phase of the care.

Right to Self-determination

Every person has the right to make free decisions regarding him/her. A mentally competent adult patient has the right to give or withheld consent to any diagnostic/treatment procedure or therapy. The patient has the right to the information necessary to make his/her decisions in the same manner that he/she also has the right to refuse to participate in research or teaching of medicine.

Right to Information

The patient has the right to receive information about him/her. Exceptionally, information may be withheld from the patient when it is believed that this information would create a serious hazard to his/her life or health. The patient has the right not to be informed on his/her explicit request, unless required for the protection of another person’s life. He/She also has the right to choose who, if anyone should be informed on his/her behalf.

Right to Confidentiality

All identifiable information about a patient’s health status, medical condition, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment and all other information of a personal kind must be kept confidential, even after death. Exceptionally, descendants may have a right of access to information that would inform them of their health risks. Confidential information may be disclosed if patient gives explicit consent or it is expressly provided for by law.

Right to Health Education

Every person has the right to health education that will assist him/her in making informed choices about personal health and about the available health services.

Right to Dignity

The patient’s dignity and right to privacy shall be respected at all times in medical care and teaching, as shall his/her culture and values and is entitled to relief of his/her suffering according to current state of knowledge. He/She is also entitled to humane terminal care and to be provided with all available assistance in making dying as dignified and comfortable as possible.

Right to Religious Assistance

The patient has the right to receive or decline spiritual and moral comfort including the help of a minister of his/her chosen religion.

RIGHTS OF UNCONSCIOUS PATIENT

If the patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to express his/her will, informed consent must be obtained whenever possible, from a legally authorized representative.

If   the legally authorized representative is not available, but a medical intervention is urgently needed, consent of the patient may be presumed, unless it is obvious  and beyond any doubt on the basis of the patient’s previous firm expression or conviction that he/she would refuse consent to the intervention.

In all cases, a physician should always try to save the life of a patient unless a prior expressed written Document clearly states otherwise. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR).

RIGHTS OF LEGALLY INCOMPETENT PATIENT

If a patient is a minor or otherwise legally incompetent, the consent of a legally authorized representative, is required. Nevertheless the patient must be involved in the decision making to the fullest extent allowed by his/her capacity.

If the legally incompetent patient can make Rational decisions, his/her decisions must be respected and he/she has the right to forbid disclosure of information to his/her legally entitled representative.

If the patient’s legally authorized representative, forbids treatment which is, in the opinion of the physician, in the patient best interest, the physician should challenge this decision before a proper forum. In case of emergency, the physician will act in the patient’s best interest.

PROCEDURES AGAINTS THE PATIENT’S WILL

Diagnostic procedures or treatments against the patient’s will can be carried out only in exceptional cases, if specifically permitted by law and conforming to the principles of medical ethics. In such cases, informed consent is secured from next-of-kin whenever possible.

PATIENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

As a patient of Calamba Doctors’ Hospital, you and/or your authorized representative are expected to:

• Provide complete and accurate information including your full name, address, home telephone number, date of birth, insurance carrier, and employer.
• Provide complete and accurate information about your health, including present condition, past Illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, natural products and vitamins, and any other matters that pertain to your health.
• Provide your doctor or the hospital with a copy of your Advance Directive if you have one and want it to be applied during your admission.
• Ask questions if you do not understand what your doctor or other members of your health care team tell you about your diagnosis or treatment. You should inform your doctor if you anticipate problems in following the prescribed treatment or if you are considering alternative therapies.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management plan. You should tell your doctor or nurse about any worries you have about taking pain medication.
• Leave valuables at home and bring only those that are necessary during your hospital stay. The management is not liable for any loss or damage to any or all of your personal possessions.
• Abide by all hospital rules and regulations, such as: - NO SMOKING policy during the entire duration of your confinement The official visiting hours (9:00 AM to 9:00 PM) - Due consideration so as to observe noise levels, privacy and safety of other patients - No weapons allowed inside the hospital premises and in patient’s room. - To treat hospital staff, other patients and visitors with utmost courtesy and respect.
• Provide complete and accurate information for insurance claims and coordinate with the hospital’s Credit and Collection staff to make payment settlement. - Know health insurance coverage and related policies concerning required pre-approvals, covered services, admissions, and the hospital and doctors covered by insurance provider. - Submit photocopies of documents such as Philhealth proof of premium payment (for processing of Philhealth benefits) and marriage contract (for processing of birth certificate registration), if it is married.
• Pay your hospital and physician bills in a timely manner.