THE MORAL ISSUES

OF PATIENTS
RIGHTS

INTRODUCTION
The issue of patients' rights has become an
important part of modern health care practice
due to patients being much more aware of what
they can expect from health care professionals
when they enter the health care environment.
This paper commences by explaining what rights
are, followed by a discussion of two fundamental
rights issues considered important in the relationship
between patients and health care professionals in
order to ensure good health care practice.
DESCRIPTION
A patients right means the moral and
inviolable power vested in him as a
person to do, hold, or demand
something as his own.

TYPES OF PATIENTS
RIGHTS
Right to Inform consent
It is the knowledge or information about and
consent to particular form of medical
treatment, before the treatment is
administered.
The information should include the risks and
advantages of any medical treatment that
concerns the patient.
Right to inform decision
It is refer to the necessary information of
and decision on the medical treatment
before and latter is carried out.
The patient must be informed about the whole
process and must understand what this
information certain to do so that an
appropriate moral decision a can be arrived
at.
Right to informed choice
It is the necessary information a patient should
know about a medical treatment or
experiment to that a moral choice can be
made. Decision and choice go together in
moral decision making.

Four major elements of informed consent
COMPETENCE
DISCLOSURE
COMPREHENSION
VOLUNTARINESS
COMPETENCE
This refers to a patients capacity or decision making.

DISCLOSURE
This refers to the content of what a patient is told or
informed about during the consent negotiation.

VOLUNTARINESS
This means that consent must be voluntary.

COMPREHENSION
This refers to whether the information given has
been understood.

Right to refusal of treatment
The patient has the right to refuse treatment to
the extent permitted by law and to be
informed of the medical consequences of his
action.

LIMITATIONS OF PATIENTS
RIGHTS
Patients rights do not include the right
to be allowed to die.
A patient in a moribund condition does
not possess the necessary mental or
emotional stability to make an informed
choice.
Patients rights are not absolute.



THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS
A patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.
A patient has the right to receive complete information from
a physician about a patient's diagnosis, treatment plan, and
prognosis.
A patient has the right to obtain information about the
specific nature of a proposed treatment or procedure, a
disclosure of the risks involved, and information about
medical alternatives.
A patient has the right to refuse treatment and to be
informed of the medical consequences.
A patient has the right to privacy during discussion of one's
medical condition and while undergoing medical care.

A patient has the right to expect all records related
to medical care will be kept confidential.
A patient has the right to expect that reasonable
efforts will be made to respond to the patient's
request for services, and that the patient will not be
transferred to another medical facility without
advising the patient of the need to be transferred
and without ensuring that the new facility will accept
transfer of the patient.

A patient has the right to obtain information about
the relationships amongst care providers in
the hospital and related medical and educational
institutions. This is designed to protect patients
from conflicting interests that might affect quality of
care.
A patient has the right to obtain information about
human experimentation and research that might
affect treatment or care, and to refuse to take part
in such experimentation and research.

A patient has the right to expect reasonable
continuity of care. This is meant to assure the
patient that, for example, diagnoses will be followed
up with continued treatment.
A patient has the right to examine and receive an
explanation of the hospital bill.

A patient has the right to be informed of
hospital rules and regulations that apply to
patient conduct. This statement of rights
provides benefit to both patient and hospital.
Though the quality of resolution varies
widely, most hospitals have grievance
committees that will hear complaints and staff
representatives that act as patient advocates
when a right is called into question.

CONCLUSION
No man is an Island. A person needs to be with
someone and should not be alone especially on the
medical field. Patient needs the help of the
physician and nurses and it is our duty not to
interfere with their rights rather, its our obligation to
perform or omit an action corresponding to the
patients rights. They have the right to decide what
they want and we should respect their decisions
and accept it.

THANK YOU