Introduction to Adult Patient Bill of Rights

Introduction

Date of Last Review 6/11/08
SME: Patients Relations Manager

When a patient applies for or receives mental health services s/he does not lose any rights as a U.S. citizen. Recipients of mental health services have additional rights mandated by the State of Texas.

Copy of rights law

If a patient wants a copy of the laws these rights come from, s/he should call the Health Facility Licensure and Certification Division of the Texas Department of Health at
1-800-228-1570.

Hospital responsibilities

It is the responsibility of this hospital to make sure the patient has been informed of his/her rights. This hospital is required to respect and provide for the patient rights and to maintain patient rights standards for JCAHO accreditation purposes.

Extension

The patient rights extend as follows:

To the parent or conservator if the patient is a minor, unless s/he has admitted his/herself to services

To the legal guardian if a court has declared the patient legally incompetent

Patient's right to know his/her rights

This table describes the patient rights to know his/her rights:

Contacts for concerns

If the patient believes that any of his/her rights have been violated or s/he has other concerns about his/her care in this hospital, s/he can contact the following:

Concern about patient's attorney

If a patient has been involuntarily committed and s/he believes that his/her attorney did not prepare his/her case properly or failed to represent the patient point of view to the judge, s/he can report the attorney's behavior to the Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Texas by writing to the following:

Disciplinary Council
State Bar of Texas
1414 Colorado
P.O. Box 12487
Austin, Texas 78711-2487

Make a complaint

This table describes the patient rights to make a complaint:

US citizens rights

The following are basic rights of citizens of the United States:

Property rights

Guardianship rights

Family rights

Religious freedom

Register and vote

Sue and be sued

Sign contracts and all the rights relating to licenses, permits, privileges, and benefits under the law

Basic rights

This table describes the basic rights for all patients at UTHCPC:

Right	The patient has the right to...
1	Be treated as a citizen of the State of Texas and the United States of America, including The right of habeas corpus which is to ask a judge if it is legal for him/her to be kept in the hospital
2	Be presumed mentally competent unless a court has ruled otherwise
3	Have a clean and humane environment where s/he is protected from harm, have privacy with regard to personal needs, and treated with respect and dignity
4	Have appropriate treatment that provides him/her with the highest likelihood for improvement and is not restrictive of his/her physical or social liberties more than is necessary
5	Be free from mistreatment, abuse, neglect, and exploitation
6	Know the following in advance: All estimated charges being made The cost of services provided by the hospital Sources of the program's reimbursement Any limitations on length of services known to the hospital
7	Have access to the following: A detailed bill of services The name of an individual at UTHCPC to contact for any of the following: Billing questions Billing arrangements Available options if insurance benefits are exhausted or denied
8	Have fair compensation for labor performed for the hospital in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act
9	Be informed of the hospital rules and regulations concerning his/her conduct and course of treatment

Related Standard

The Joint Commission : Ethics, Rights, and Responsibilities,

Texas Administrative Code

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