Have Your Rights Been Violated In A Nursing Home?

Every nursing home resident has rights. Do you know what your rights are? Do you know if your rights have been violated? According to Florida law:

A patient has the right to:

• Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her dignity, and with protection of privacy.
• Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
• Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.
• Know what patient support services are available, including if an interpreter is available if the patient does not speak English.
• Know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.
• Be given by the health care provider information such as diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
• Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
• Be given full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for care.
• Know whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate, if the patient is covered by Medicare. .
• Receive prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
• Receive a copy of an understandable itemized bill and, if requested, to have the charges explained.
• Receive medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
• Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
• Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such research.
• Express complaints regarding any violation of his or her rights.

A patient is responsible for:

• Giving the health care provider accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and any other information about his or her health.
• Reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.
• Reporting to the health care provider whether he or she understands a planned course of action and what is expected of him or her.
• Following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
• Keeping appointments and, when unable to do so, notifying the health care provider or facility.
• His or her actions if treatment is refused or if the patient does not follow the health care provider's instructions.
• Making sure financial responsibilities are carried out.
• Following health care facility conduct rules and regulations.

If you are a nursing home resident, or have a loved one in a nursing home, and have reason to believe your rights have been violated; contact a nursing home attorney at Charlip Law Group, LC to discuss your options. You are not alone!