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. COMPREHENSION This refers to whether the information given has been understood. VOLUNTARINESS This means that consent must be voluntary.

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.

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