Introduction
Health care law is the body of laws that regulates how health care is provided in this country. It includes everything from Medicare and Medicaid to private insurance, medical malpractice and more.
The importance of understanding your rights as a patient cannot be overstated; being able to advocate for yourself can make all the difference when it comes to getting the best possible care at an affordable price.
Right to Informed Consent
Informed consent is the right of a patient to be informed of the risks and benefits of treatment. Informed consent also means that you have the right to refuse treatment, even if it could save your life. If there are no alternatives available, then doctors must provide adequate information about other options before proceeding with surgery or other procedures that may result in permanent disability or death.
The right to informed consent is guaranteed by both federal law (the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act) and state laws governing medical care providers such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes; however these laws vary from state-to-state so check with your local health department for more information on this topic if necessary!
Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
You have the right to privacy of medical information. This means that your doctor, hospital or other health care provider should not discuss or disclose any information about you without your permission.
Your medical records are also protected by law and must be kept confidential by all staff members who have access to them. You can request copies of these records at any time; however, there may be a fee associated with this request depending on what type of information is being requested (for example: photocopying). If someone else requests copies of your records without your permission, it is considered an invasion of privacy under federal law–unless they have been given legal authority by court order or subpoena (a court order compelling testimony). In addition, if someone requests access to private health information about another person without their consent then they could face criminal penalties under federal law as well as civil liability if they were found liable after filing suit against them
Right to Quality Care
The right to quality care is a fundamental principle of health law. It means that you have the right to appropriate care, timely and professional care, and to be treated with respect.
Right To Appropriate Care: Your doctor must provide you with medically necessary treatment for your condition. For example, if you go into the hospital for surgery on your leg but it turns out that what really needs fixing is something else entirely (like an ingrown toenail), then your doctor must give you treatment for that condition as well–even though it’s not part of his/her job description!
Right To Timely And Professional Care: Doctors have an obligation under federal law not only provide quality medical services but also do so in a timely manner without undue delays or interruptions in their service delivery process; this includes keeping records updated accurately so patients can easily access them when needed most (e.g., during emergencies).
Right To Be Treated With Respect: Patients have certain rights regarding privacy while being treated by doctors/nurses/etc., including being informed beforehand what kind information may be shared outside their immediate circle (i..e family members) before consenting any sort procedures involving disclosure such as blood tests etc..
Right to Non-Discrimination
The right to non-discrimination is a patient’s right to be treated equally regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. It also means that patients have the right to receive care without discrimination based on these factors.
The Affordable Care Act expanded this protection by prohibiting discrimination against anyone who has health insurance coverage through an employer or government program like Medicare or Medicaid (but not private insurance). This includes people with pre-existing conditions who may have been denied coverage in the past because of their illness–a practice known as “medical underwriting.”
The ACA also protects transgender people from being denied coverage for services related to gender transition such as hormone therapy or surgery if they are eligible for Medicare Part A hospital benefits
Right to Complaints and Appeals
You have the right to file a complaint or appeal if you feel that your rights have been violated. You may also be able to file a complaint with the federal government’s Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Right to an impartial review: If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your grievance, you can request an impartial review by filing an appeal within 60 days of receiving notice of your insurer’s decision on the grievance. The appeals process must be conducted by someone who did not participate in making the initial decision about your claim. You should receive written notice explaining how long it will take for them to issue their final decision after they have reviewed all relevant information related to your case; however, there is no time limit for completing this process as long as both parties agree on its length and terms
Right to Access Medical Records
You have a right to access your own medical records. You also have the right to request corrections and/or copies of your records.
If you would like to see a copy of your medical records, ask the doctor or hospital staff if they can give them to you in person or mail them directly to an address that is different from the one on file with them (such as home). If they say no, ask why not–they may be able to provide copies if there are no legal reasons why not (see below).
Right to Privacy in Treatment Decisions
In general, you have the right to privacy in making treatment decisions. This means that your doctor cannot disclose information about your health care without your permission unless there is an exception under law or regulation.
The following are examples of exceptions:
- If you are a minor (under 18 years old), then your parents can make medical decisions for you if they have legal custody of you. In this case, the doctor may talk with them about their child’s condition without consulting the child directly if they think it is necessary for him/her to know the information so that he/she can make informed decisions about his/her own health care needs. However, if there is any doubt as to whether someone has parental authority over another person who is under 18 years old then both parents must be contacted before disclosing any confidential information related specifically thereto;
- When required by law; For example: reporting suspected child abuse or neglect (this includes reporting suspected domestic violence); disclosing drug overdoses where death has occurred due to overdose but not suicide attempts made by adults aged 17 years old and older who live independently from their parents; disclosing HIV status when necessary for preventing transmission through blood transfusions etcetera…
