MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                  2119

(A) PATIENTS OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES; BILL OF
RIGHTS; PUBLIC POLICY. IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION TO PROMOTE THE
INTERESTS AND WELL BEING OF THE PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS OF
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. IT IS DECLARED TO BE THE PUBLIC
POLICY OF THIS STATE THAT THE INTERESTS OF THE PATIENT BE
PROTECTED BY A DECLARATION OF A PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS
WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE
FOLLOWING:

(1)    EVERY PATIENT AND RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE
FIGHT TO CONSIDERATE AND RESPECTFUL CARE;

(2)    EVERY PATIENT CAN REASONABLY EXPECT TO OBTAIN
FROM HIS PHYSICIAN OR THE RESIDENT PHYSICIAN OF THE
FACILITY COMPLETE AND CURRENT INFORMATION CONCERNING HIS
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS IN TERRS AND LANGUAGE
THE PATIENT CAN SEASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND. IN
SUCH CASES THAT IT IS NOT MEDICALLY ADVISABLE TO GIVE
SUCH INFORMATION TO THE PATIENT, THE INFORMATION MAY BE
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSON IN HIS BEHALF;

(3)    EVERY PATIENT AND RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE
RIGHT TO KNOW BY NAME AND SPECIALTY, IF ANY, THE
PHYSICIAN RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATION OF HIS CARE;

(4)    EVERY PATIENT AND RESIDENT SHALL HAVE     THE
RIGHT TO EVERY CONSIDERATION OF HIS PRIVACY      AND
INDIVIDUALITY AS IT RELATES TO HIS SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS,    ASP
PSYCHOLOGICAL HELL BEING;

(5)    EVERY PATIENT AMD RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE
RIGHT TO RESPECTFULNESS AND PRIVACY AS IT RELATES TO HIS
MEDICAL CARE PROGRAM. CASE DISCUSSION, CONSULTATION,
EXAMINATION, AND TREATMENT ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND SHOULD BE
CONDUCTED DISCREETLY;

(6)    EVERY PATIENT AND RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE
EIGHT TO EXPECT THE FACILITY TO HAKE A REASONABLE
RESPONSE TO THE REQUESTS OF THE PATIENT;

(7)    EVERY PATIENT AND RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE
EIGHT TO OBTAIN INFORMATION AS TO ANY RELATIONSHIP OF THE
FACILITY TO OTHER HEALTH CARE AND RELATED INSTITUTIONS
INSOFAR AS HIS CARE IS CONCERNED; AND

(8)    THE PATIENT AND RESIDENT HAVE THE RIGHT TO
EXPECT REASONABLE CONTINUITY OF CARE WHICH SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, WHAT APPOINTMENT TIMES AND
PHYSICIANS ARE AVAILABLE.

(9)    EVERY PATIENT AND RESIDENT SHALL HAVE THE

RIGHT TO HAVE UNRESTRICTED COMMUNICATION WITH ANY PERSON
OR PERSONS OF HIS CHOICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO