Your legal rights as a health consumer are based on two basic rights:
- The right to give or withhold your informed consent to treatment.
- The right to receive competent care from health service providers.
You have the right to:
- Be treated with care, consideration and decency
- Clear explanations and information
- Ask questions about the service, any proposed procedures, and its risks, benefits and alternative treatments
- Be given time to understand the information provided
- Be informed about the costs of treatment(s)
- Be informed if the procedure is experimental or part of research
- Ask for a second opinion
- Choose a health care establishment
- Give informed consent about treatment and withdraw consent at any time
- Appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot make those decisions yourself
- Leave the hospital at any time – except in the case of some infectious diseases or psychiatric conditions
- Confidentiality of personal records
- Complain if you are not happy
- Redress in the event of injury
- Have access to your medical records
- Have the right to an interpreter
You also have responsibilities as a patient. These are to:
- tell us about your illnesses and hospital visits, symptoms, medications, allergies and other health related matters
- tell us about any religious or cultural beliefs and requirements
- treat all people you meet in the health service (staff, volunteers, patients, their families) with care, dignity and consideration
- ask questions and talk to your family before making any decisions about your health care if relevant
- follow staff instructions regarding your treatment and care
- be on time for appointments and let your health service know if you need to cancel or reschedule, and notify us if your contact details change
- respect the confidentiality and privacy of others.
Further information:
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights in multiple languages
Video animation on the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights in English
Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights Auslan video