Understanding Patient Rights and Responsibilities during Hospital Care

Understanding Patient Rights and Responsibilities during Hospital Care

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
30 January, 2026

Medical care accessibility should be provided to one and all, with no strings attached- that is what is expected of medical personnel all these years. Consideration of patient’s rights and responsibilities by hospitals and healthcare facilitators is very essential in providing respectful informed care, unbiased medical opinion to patients and ensuring their privacy. As a patient on the other side, one must also uphold their responsibilities by cooperating with health care facilities – by providing accurate information, following up with care plans, maintaining mutual respect and ensuring bills get paid for services and treatments rendered. 

As A Patient, You Have These Rights

• Care accessibility – Patients are eligible to receive care medically when necessary, regardless of age, sex, language, national origin, disability, religion, income, education, job, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
• Medical record accessibility – Patients have the right to receive a copy of their medical records at any time – before, during the course of treatment and afterwards, unless special circumstances apply.  
• Confidentiality and privacy – Patients and their bystanders are assured by healthcare providers about the privacy and confidentiality of their medical records, decisions and all other discussions that occur before, during and after treatment.   
• Continuity of care and discharge information – Patients can request for written discharge copies from hospitals after treatment and ask their care team about necessary follow up in detail.
• Care decisions can be designated to others – In critically ill patients or patients in vegetative states and other emergency conditions, the guardian or next of kin of the patient has medical power of attorney and is authorized as a responsible decision maker on behalf of the patient.
• Informed consent and refusal – Asking for informed consent and explaining the treatment plan is crucial for proper decision making. Patients are also given other options, provided the benefits, risks and other aspects of these new choices are also explained in great detail. You can refuse any mode of treatment too at times. However, refusal of treatment can only be permitted to an extent approved by the law as this may not be applicable in emergency conditions.
• Language accessibility – Patients have the right to receive and request medical information in their preferred language.
• Participation in your care decisions – Personnel at KIMS Sunshine Hospital are  trained to provide for and interact with patients and their bystanders regarding treatment and services, with a rigorous emphasis on getting informed consent. 
• Effective and respectful communication- Healthcare facilities and facilitators should communicate effectively and clearly with the patient and their associates. The patient has every right to obtain all the information about his treatment process at any given time.

As a Patient, You Have The Following Responsibilities

• Patients must provide full information about their health and any changes in their condition to their respective healthcare professional.
• As a basic responsibility, patients must remember that they should ask queries about their treatment plan to their doctors if any term or aspect of it is not understood.
• Informing the hospital staff when leaving the premises or the ward. 
• Requests for any help or side effects post treatment must be informed to their respective doctors.
• If patients choose to stop the treatment plan, it should be understood that the outcome of their decision is solely theirs and NOT the doctor’s or hospital’s responsibility anymore.
• Hospital and healthcare professionals are not responsible for your belongings. You as a patient or bystander should take care of them.

Conclusion

Patient rights and responsibilities are crucial for a positive and effective hospital experience. It helps to empower patients – so they can participate actively in their care. A mutual understanding between the patient and healthcare management can help in fostering trust and lead to better health outcomes. Patients should not only abide by their responsibilities and rights but can also report any kind of grievance faced during the course of their treatment via direct communication to hospital staff; the grievance board can escalate them to higher medical bodies for desired outcomes. Patients play a crucial role in maintaining their own safety by being informed, asking relevant questions, providing information with accuracy and participating actively in their treatment and care decisions.

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