Client Rights - Rights of Patients

Every patient has the right to:

• Receive prompt and adequate treatment.
• Participate in their treatment planning.
• Be informed of their treatment and care.
• Refuse treatment and medications unless court-ordered.
• Be free from unnecessary or excessive medications.

(See also Confidentiality of Treatment Records)

• Staff must keep patient information confidential
• Records cannot be released without patient consent with some exceptions
• Patients may see their records
• They can always see records of their medications and health treatments
• During treatment, access may be limited if the risks outweigh benefits
• Patients may challenge the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or relevance of entries in their records

Every (in)patient has the right to:

• Have reasonable access to a telephone *
• See (or refuse to see) visitors daily *
• Send or receive mail
• Contact public officials, lawyers or patient advocates

Every (in)patient has the right to:

• Have the least restrictive environment, except for forensic patients
• Not be secluded or restrained except in an emergency when necessary to prevent harm to self or others
• Wear their own clothing and use their own possessions *
• Have regular and frequent exercise opportunities
• Have regular and frequent access to the outdoors
• Have staff make reasonable (non-arbitrary) decisions about them
• Refuse to work – except for personal housekeeping tasks
• Be paid for work they agree to do that is of financial benefit to the facility

Every (in)patient has the right to:

• Not be filmed or taped without his or her consent
• Have privacy in toileting and bathing *
• Have a reasonable amount of secure storage space for his or her possessions *

Every patient has the right to:

• Be treated with dignity and respect by all staff of the provider
• Be informed of his or her rights
• Be informed of any costs of his or her care
• Refuse electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)
• Refuse drastic treatment measures
• File complaints about violations of his or her rights
• Be free from any retribution for filing complaints