3542

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 857

FOR the purpose of clarifying the rights of patients in
skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care
facilities; listing and describing these rights;
transferring these rights to the guardian of a
patient found incompetent; requiring notice of the
rights; providing for the implementation of this
section; and providing for the investigation of
grievances.

BY repealing and re—enacting, with amendments,

Article 43 - Health

Section 565C

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 565C of Article 43 - Health, of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume
and 1974 Supplement) be and it is hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

Article 43 - Health

565C.

(a) 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] SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND INTERMEDIATE
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
AND BY REQUIRING THAT THE FACILITIES TREAT THEIR PATIENTS
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL OF RIGHTS,
which shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:

(1)    Every patient and resident shall [have
the right to considerate and respectful care;] BE TREATED
WITH CONSIDERATION, RESPECT, AND FULL RECOGNITION OF
THEIR DIGNITY AND INDIVIDUALITY;

(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 terms and
language the patient can reasonably 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