Code of Ethical Responsibilites Towards Patients and Statement of Expectations of Patients
Amended and approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee, April 3, 2003
Final version approved by the Board, May 15, 2003
Preamble
The Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital strives to provide patient care of the highest quality. The hospital is committed to providing humane care and attention in a unique and individual way. Its commitment to the advancement of medicine is achieved through research and scholarly inquiry conducted in the context of outstanding patient care, teaching, and social concern. (From: The Hospital Mission Statement)
The JGH believes that its activity in health education and research contributes to the quality of patient care. In individual cases where a potential for conflict exists between the rights, interests, and reasonable expectations of patients and the demands of education or research, those of the patient take priority. Research and teaching activities must conform to accepted norms of professional ethics. No research related to patients may be done within the hospital without receiving prior approval from the hospital's Research Ethics Committee.
In addition to complying with this Code, all members of professional orders and associations are governed by their respective professional codes of ethics.
This Code is meant to establish a framework for collaborative relationships among our patients, their families and our staff. This document is not intended as a summary of our patients' full legal rights; moreover, there may be exceptions to the rights listed within the Code.
Respect for One Another
It is the right of every person in the hospital – including patients, families, visitors, staff, volunteers and students – to be respected as persons and to be dealt with in a polite and helpful manner.
Every person in the hospital has an obligation to contribute to the creation of a comfortable environment for the hospital community. This includes abiding by hospital policies with respect to noise, smoking, use of cellular phones, etc.
All persons within the hospital must also respect policies specifically established to maintain the hospital's Jewish identity.
Responsibilities Towards Patients
Each right to which a patient is entitled also serves as the basis for a corresponding responsibility among those working within the JGH. Everyone who works in the hospital, including those not directly employed by the JGH, is required and expected to respect the patient's rights. Staff are responsible for assisting patients in exercising those rights.
The JGH outlines and affirms these rights and duties with the expectation that their observance will contribute to more effective patient care, to enhanced provider-patient relations, and to greater satisfaction for patients, their families, health care teams, and the hospital as a whole.
Rights of Patients
Quality Care
Every patient has the right to receive care that conforms to established clinical standards in the province of Québec. This care will be provided in a humane and competent fashion that is individualized to the patient's needs.
The patient is entitled to request any consultations, including a second opinion, that are required for the exercise of the right to competent, informed, and complete care.
The right to competent care may be exercised only in a way that respects the conscience of the health care professional. That professional retains the freedom to accept or refuse to treat a person, except in emergency circumstances.
The right to care will be respected within the limits set by available institutional resources.
Non-discrimination
Every patient has the right to be treated fairly and justly. Discrimination based upon factors such as the patient's language, race, religion, ethnic origin, political affiliation, social status, gender, sexual orientation, age, or health status is unacceptable.
Respect for Person and Culture
Every patient has the right to be treated in a respectful and dignified manner, with sensitivity to his/her social and cultural needs.
Medical and nursing care should be carried out with consideration for privacy and the personal modesty of patients, and should at all times acknowledge the patient as a person as well as a recipient of care.
All patients have the right to have their religious needs reasonably accommodated. The JGH, established by and with a continuing commitment to the Jewish community, accepts a special responsibility to meet the specific needs of the members of that community, including observance of the dietary laws of kashrut.
In recognition of the fact that the patient is part of a family and belongs to a particular community, the hospital shall, with the patient's consent, attempt to facilitate their involvement in the patient's care.
Information and Consent to Care
No person may be forced to undergo care of any nature, except with his/her consent. This consent is to be given or refused by the patient or, depending on the circumstances, his/her authorized representative or a court. In emergency circumstances where the patient is incapable of providing consent, and where the authorized representative is unavailable and the patient's wishes are not known, necessary treatment will be provided.
Every patient is entitled to receive and understand information about his/her state of health and to be acquainted with the various options, as well as the risks, benefits and consequences generally associated with each option.
Before consenting to any treatment, every patient has the right to have his/her questions answered.
The patient is entitled to know the name and function of the persons responsible for his/her health care, and the name and function of any person providing health care services to the patient.
Every patient has the right of access to his/her health records.
All of the above rights will be respected subject to certain legal requirements and exceptions. A patient's right to information may be constrained in those limited instances where providing the information will be seriously prejudicial to his/her health. Other circumstances required or authorized by law may modify the application of these rights.
Every patient has the right to designate a representative to act on his/her behalf. This legally authorized representative is entitled to the same access to information as the patient, and to be involved in decisions about care.
Confidentiality and Privacy
Every patient has the right to have his/her privacy respected and to have his/her health information and records maintained in a confidential manner. Patients and visitors are also encouraged to respect the personal privacy and confidentiality of others.
Advocacy
Every patient and his/her family has the right to gain access to designated hospital resources to assist in negotiating complex situations. Any member of the health care team can offer guidance to patients and their families.
Every patient has the right to express dissatisfaction with any aspect of the care that has been provided, with the assurance that his/her concerns will be addressed respectfully.
Hospital's Expectations of Patients
The hospital assumes that patients share with the hospital an active interest in optimal patient care and outcome. To that end, patients – and/or those who speak on their behalf – ideally form a therapeutic alliance with those who provide medical care. Open communication and mutual trust are essential elements of that alliance.
Therefore, members of the hospital's staff encourage patients to communicate freely and openly about their present and future care, and to ask any questions that they feel are necessary.
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