Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights

  1. To a prompt and adequate response to reasonable requests and needs for treatment or service within Codman Square Health Center’s (CSHC) capacity.
  2. To prompt life-saving treatment in an emergency without discrimination on account of economic status or source of payment
  3. To considerate and respectful care
  4. To accept or refuse to be examined, observed or treated by students or any other CSHC staff without jeopardizing access to psychiatric, psychological or other medical care or attention
  5. To provide or receive assistance to execute a Health Care Proxy pursuant to law
  6. To informed consent to the extent provided by law
  7. Upon request, to obtain from CSHC the name and specialty, if any, of the physician or other person responsible for his or her care or the coordination of such care
  8. Upon admission, to information about CSHC’s policy regarding patient rights and responsibilities
  9. Upon request, to receive any information that CSHC has available relative to financial assistance and free health care
  10. Upon request, to obtain an explanation as to the relationship, if any, of CSHC, or any physician practicing at CSHC, to any other health care facility, or educational institution, insofar as said relationship relates to the patient’s care or treatment
  11. To refuse to serve as a research subject or to refuse to accept any care or examination when the primary purpose is education or informational rather than therapeutic
  12. To privacy during medical treatment or other rendering of care within CSHC’s capacity
  13. To confidentiality of records and communications, as prescribed by law
  14. Upon request, to inspect his or her medical record and to receive a copy thereof, as prescribed by law
  15. Upon request, to receive a copy of any itemized CSHC bill or other statement of charges submitted to a third party for the patient’s care
  16. To complete information on all medically viable alternative treatments in the case of patients suffering from breast cancer
  17. To appropriate assessment and management of pain

Patient Responsibilities

  1. To keep appointments, or telephone CSHC when you cannot keep a scheduled appointment
  2. To provide to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, advance directives, and other matters relevant to health or care
  3. To inform CSHC promptly if you do not understand any matters relating to your care and treatment or instructions with which you cannot comply
  4. To be considerate of other patients and to see that your visitors are considerate, particularly with reference to noise (visiting regulations have been established to ensure the rights and comfort of all patients and must be followed)
  5. To observe CSHC’s smoke-free policy
  6. To abide by CSHC’s rules and regulations
  7. To provide CSHC with necessary information regarding coverage of your hospital charges
  8. Patients are responsible for their actions if they refuse treatment or do not follow their practitioner’s instructions

In the event you have a complaint regarding your care or if you have a question concerning your rights and responsibilities as a patient, please call (617) 825-9660 and ask to speak to the Compliance Officer.

No person shall be denied treatment, which is available or medically indicated, on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, nationality, origin or handicap.

Poster with Patient Bill of Rights & Privacy Practices