What are your rights as a patient? What are your responsibilities? You may be concerned about the former, but the latter may not be a concept that you've thought about. As a patient, you absolutely have certain rights that you should expect from your healthcare providers, but you also have some responsibilities.
With conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the rights of privacy and respect are very important but are not always a given. IBD patients may struggle with compliance for a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with treatment options and frustration with healthcare providers. The following articles will help you to better understand how patient privacy and responsibility go hand-in-hand in the healthcare setting.
Patients' Rights
Patients have certain rights that are indisputable, such as the rights to privacy, respect, informed consent, and to refuse treatment. The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996 was passed to protect your healthcare information, yet certain parties are still legally allowed to access your medical records. Many people mistakenly believe they are not legally allowed to refuse treatment, especially in the hospital setting, but refusing treatment (even surgery) is a patient right. Learn more about your rights as a patient.Responsibilities As A Patient
The healthcare system is a two-way street: patients have certain rights they can expect, but patients must also accept some responsibility for their own care. After all, we as patients are ultimately responsible for our bodies and we owe it to ourselves to treat them with respect. Patients are responsible for being honest with healthcare providers, complying with the agreed-upon treatment, treating healthcare providers and staff with respect, and (yes!) paying for services rendered. This article will help you better understand your responsibilities as a patient.Patient Compliance
Patients with IBD are unfortunately not known for their compliance with treatment plans. There are reasons for this, such as concerns about side effects of medications, but that doesn't release us from responsibility. If you've agreed upon a treatment plan with your healthcare providers, you should follow through with it. If you're unable to do so, then you should make your physician aware so that a new treatment plan can be devised. Find out more about how compliance affects your treatment plan.Holes in Patients' Rights
In the United States we are fortunate to have certain rights, but there are others we do not have. We do not have the right to receive healthcare at all, although there are some exceptions. HIPAA protects our privacy to a certain extent, but some parties still have access to our medical records. Read this article to find out more about the rights you don't yet have.Source:
Jackson CA, Clatworthy J, Robinson A, Horne R. "Factors Associated With Non-Adherence to Oral Medication for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review." Amer J Gastroenterol March 2010; 105:525-539. 20 Jul 2010.
