Your Rights & Responsibilities

As a health care facility concerned with meeting your needs as well as the needs of the community, MercyOne has adopted a policy on patient rights and responsibilities which applies to all of our patients.

If the patient is an infant, child adolescent, or is legally incompetent, the responsibility to monitor and exercise to the extent permitted by law these rights and responsibilities falls upon the parent, guardian, or legally appointed representative.  Your rights and responsibilities are as follows.

You have the right to:

1. Not be discriminated against.
2. Be treated courteously.
3. Privacy and safety.
4. Confidentiality regarding your presence in the hospital, your care, and treatment.
5. Participate in religious or social activities as appropriate.
6. Talk privately with whomever you please, and talk only to those you wish to if they are not involved in your care.
7. A second opinion in regard to your care.
8. Not be transferred out of the hospital unless you understand why.
9. Know which staff members are caring for you and what their roles are.
10. Participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in your care and treatment.
11. Participate in treatment decisions about your care.  You may refuse care or treatment to the extent provided by law.  You will be informed of and responsible for the medical consequences of such refusal.
12. Know and understand your diagnosis and treatment plan.
13. Be informed of how to care for yourself following hospital discharge.
14. Receive a copy of your hospital bill and, at your request, information regarding financial assistance.
15. Express concerns or complaints to the hospital staff and receive appropriate review and resolution according to hospital policy.
16. Be informed when students are involved in your treatment and to refuse their care if you wish.
17. Participate or not participate in research programs.
18. Language or sign interpreters if you need them.
19. Know hospital rules and regulations
20. Access your medical record.
21. Be free from any physical, sexual, or psychological abuse including humiliating, frightening, or exploiting forms of punishment or neglect.
22. Comfort care at end-stage of life.
23.  In managing your pain, you may expect:
    • your reports of pain to be believed
    • information about pain and pain relief measures
    • concerned staff committed to pain prevention
    • health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain
    • state-of-the-art pain management
    • dedicated pain relief specialists

 You have the responsibility to:

1. Provide complete information on your medical history.
2. Notify your caregiver if your condition changes.
3. Tell your caregiver if you do not understand your treatment.
4. Follow the instructions of your health care providers and accept treatment or be responsible for the medical consequences resulting from refusal.
5. Keep appointments.
6. Make financial arrangements for your hospital stay.
7. Follow the hospital rules and regulations, such as keeping the noise and number of visitors to a minimum.
8. Be courteous to others and respect hospital property.
9. Participate in your plan of care and discharge plans.
10. As a patient in this hospital we expect that you will:
    • Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management
    • Discuss pain relief options with your doctor or nurse
    • Ask for pain relief when the pain first starts
    • Help your doctor or nurse measure the pain
    • Tell your doctor or nurse if the pain is not relieved by pain medications or other measures
    • Tell your doctor or nurse about concerns regarding the effects of taking pain medication