Patient and legal guardian rights

 including the following:

 Awareness of rights and responsibilities

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· Provide each patient (or his/ her legal guardian) with a written version of the "patient, his/ her family, companion, legal guardian, and visitor's bill of rights" when he/ she registers to open the medical file or enters the PSCC inpatient wards.

· Patient Services Department staff should help the patient (or his/ her legal guardian) to read and understand the Bill better and answer any questions about its contents.

· Ensure that the Bill is available in the PSCC reception areas, admission departments to the inpatient suites and waiting rooms.

· Have posters or pamphlets about the Bill in the PSCC reception areas, admission departments to the inpatient suites and waiting rooms.

 Receiving care and medical treatment.

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· Ensures that the patient is provided with the right treatment in the right time without discrimination as to race, religion, believe, creed, language, sex, age or disability, in accordance with the policies and procedures of treatment eligibility and within the PSCC capacity and its regulations.

· Ensure that the patient or his/her legal guardian is fully and clearly informed about the case and health status in an understandable language.

· Have an appropriate mechanism to educate the patient (or his legal guardian) and the family of the patient enough to deal with the health status of the patient.

· Provide the patient with adequate nutrition that is appropriate for his/her medical condition.

· Asses and manage the patient pain appropriately.

Privacy and Confidentiality.

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· Ensures the preservation of the patient's privacy and confidentiality when discussing the diagnosis of the case and treatment program of the patient (either with the patient or his/ her legal guardian).

· Keep the patient's private parts covered at all times unless a medically urgent situation dictates otherwise.

· Maintain the confidentiality of the patient's information pertaining to his/ her medical condition unless the patient or legal guardian grants the permission to release them, with exception to information required by the judicial authorities.

· Refrain from notifying family of the patient with information pertaining to his/ her medical condition unless the patient (or legal guardian) requests to release such information.

· The patient is entitled to refuse to see anyone not concerned with providing the health service, including the patient's companion, family members or visitors.

· Patient medical record is accessible only to:

- The medical team caring for the patient.

- Continuous Quality Improvement and patient's safety.

- PSCC Research and medical studies team.

- Legal or judicial authorities (in case of a judicial inquiry or complaint.)

 · Provide the patient with appropriate outfits and necessary personal kit.

· Ensures the availability of separate and appropriate male and female waiting areas.

· Transfer the patient to a private examination room if his/ her room is not suitable for examination.

· Ensures the presence of female nurse during the clinical examination of the female patient as well as during tests or interventions.

· Ensures that the patient doesn't stay in the examination room more than needed.

Protection and Safety.

 - PSCC is committed to the following:

· Provide patient with health care in a safe environment that is appropriate to the patient health condition.

· Refrain from isolating the patient unless it is necessary.

· Transfer the patient safely from and to the PSCC and within the PSCC facilities.

· Set sufficient procedures to protect patient's possessions from theft and damage.

· Protect the patient from all kinds of abuse/ harm.

· Ban (Forbid) smoking in all PSCC facilities.

· Provide means of safety from fire hazards and/or major disasters, and provide proper evacuation plans.

· Ensures the environmental safety inside the PSCC Respect and Appreciation.

 - PSCC is committed to the following:

· Provide patient with health care in a safe environment that is appropriate to the patient health condition.

· Treat the patient with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his/her individual dignity, at all times and under all circumstances.

· Respect the patient's identity when dealing directly with him/ her by calling him/her with his/her official name only, and maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the patient with respect to his/her medical condition in PSCC public facilities.

· Respect the patient’s cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences.

· Provide decent care to patient in case of dying or death and treat the corpse with respect.

Participation in the Healthcare Plan.

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· Introduce the patient to the services provided by the PSCC, the proposed healthcare plan in addition to the potentials and capability of the PSCC.

· Introduce the patient (or legal guardian) to the identity of the consultant physician supervising his/ her treatment.

· Introduce the patient to the identity and professional status of the health care providers responsible of his/her treatment.

· Inform the patient (or legal guardian) in case there are licensed trainees within the medical team.

· Complete and updated information about the diagnosis and treatment should be provided to the patient (or legal guardian) by the treating consultant or his deputy, in an understandable language.

· Treating Consultant physician should ddiscuss with the patient (or legal guardian) the potential outcomes, associated complications, risks, benefits and alternatives - if any-to the proposed procedures.

· Introduce the patient (or legal guardian) to the name/ identity of the physician performing the surgical, interventional or diagnostic procedure except in emergency situations where immediate medical intervention is required under the standard regulations.

· Prior to signing the declaration/ consent form, patient (or legal guardian) should be provided with necessary information prior to performing any surgical, interventional or diagnostic procedure.

· Inform the patient (or legal guardian) of the type of interventions, medications and the radiology used in the treatment; there efficiency and safety.

· Explain to the patient (or legal guardian) the reasons for transferring the patient to another department in the PSCC or to another health facility and give him the necessary instructions.

· Enable the patient (or legal guardian) to obtain a second opinion from inside or outside the PSCC. This may be requested from the PSCC Patient Relations Department to coordinate with the Medical Administration in this regard.

 Refuse treatment

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· Inform the patient or his/her legal guardian that he/ she may refuse the treatment or a part of it. While the PSCC is committed to preserving this right in accordance with established laws and regulations, the patient or his/her legal guardian must be informed of the expected consequences resulting thereof, provided that he/ she must sign the consent form that confirms his/her decision to refuse the prescribed medical procedure(s).

· Ensures that no procedures or decisions, which are not related to the patient's health condition, taken against the patient as a result of refusing the treatment. The health facility will continue provide appropriate health care to the patient according to standard medical criteria.

· There will be no decisions or further actions taken against the patient as a result of refusing the treatment in case the patient wanted to treat the same illness or another one.

· The patient or his/her legal guardian is fully responsible for his/her decisions or actions resulting from refusing treatment or failure to follow instructions relating to treatment.

· Inform the patient of the availability of any other alternative treatments if he/ she refuse the planned treatment.

Participation in Research Studies

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· The patient may participate in a research study that is related to his/her case if he/she meets the search requirements and according to resources available for the medical research or study.

· Provide the patient with clear and comprehensive information with respect to the medical research or study, clinical, therapeutic and medication treatment used in addition to the expected outcomes of his/ her participation.

· The patient has the right to accept or decline participation before or during the medical research / study.

· Prior to allowing the patient to participate in any research or study, a special consent form declaring his/ her approval must be signed by the patient or his/her legal guardian.

· Medical researches or studies must be supervised and approved by a (scientific /official) committee or authority.

· Follow established standard and clear procedures designed to protect the patient and receive his/ her complaints and views during the research or study.

· The patient has the right to stop participation at any time without compromise to the patient's usual care, his/ her right of treatment and/ or continuity of treatment.

Organ and Tissues Donation Policies and Procedures:

 - PSCC is committed to the following:

· Established legal procedures of donations.

· List of organs and tissues allowed for donation.

· Donor requirements.

· Rreceiver requirements.

· Donation and Transplantation requirements and consent forms.

Clear and Comprehensive Consent (Declaration) Forms:

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· Provide a list of therapeutic interventions and diagnostic procedures, which require separate consent (declaration) form(s), such as: anesthesia, blood and blood products transfusions, high risk interventions and treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation and electrical therapies, etc.

· Inform the patient or his/her legal guardian of the information contained in the consent form in a clear and understandable language, and clarify - in writing- the negative results or complications, and the percentage of risk of failure or complications.

· Clearly write the name and obtain the signature of the doctor, who will perform the therapeutic intervention, as a witness to the procedure.

· Clearly write the name and obtain the signature of the patient or his/ her legal guardian or deputy as a declaration of the patient receiving all information relating to the consent form.

· Retain the consent form in the patient's file.

· Signature of the consent form will be considered valid for ten days only, after which it shall be considered null and void.

Complaints and Suggestions Policies and Procedures:

- PSCC is committed to the following:

· The patient (or his/ her legal guardian) is entitled to file a verbal or written, signed or unsigned, complaint/suggestion to the Patient Services Department without prejudice to the quality of service provided to him/ her.

· Inform the patient (or his/ her legal guardian) with established procedures and mechanisms adopted by the PSCC to deal with complaints and suggestions, in addition to the expected response time.

· Promptly deal with and respond to the patient's complaint within a reasonable period of time.

· Inform the patient (or his/ her legal guardian) of any information available regarding his/ her complaint or suggestion as they become available.

- Child Patient Rights:

· Child patient is entitled to be examined by a specialized medical team.

· PSCC must be equipped with equipment, tools and supplies designed for children.

· Availability of a separate policy to protect children from all forms of abuse.

· Provide the appropriate environment for children to help them to adapt during the treatment course at the PSCC.

· Assign a companion (watcher) to the child in inpatient facilities at the PSCC, with the exception of the ICU and nursery, in line with established regulations.

· Assign a companion to the child in the event of transfer within the PSCC.

· Provide a clear policy of vaccination and testing for children in accordance with Medical Services General Directorate’s circulars.

· Any cases of child abuse shall be reported by the medical team to the PSCC authority concerned.

· Avoid retaining or isolating the child unless it is medically necessary.

Appendix 2

- Elderly Patient Rights:

· Take the specific needs of elderly patients into account within the PSCC.

· Provide the means and procedures of safety and protection for elderly patients.

· Provide appropriate meals elderly inpatients.

· Assist elderly patients to receive health and therapeutic services required.

· Facilitate the procedures relative to obtaining medical appointments and reports for elderly patients when visiting any of the PSCC facilities

Appendix 3

- Psychiatric Patient Rights:

· Ensure the availability of special procedures to protect psychiatric patients from all forms of abuse.

· Refrain from physically restraining the patient in any way or place him/ her in isolation room without a medical reason.

· Provide the long- stay psychiatric patient with educational and rehabilitation means appropriate to his/ her abilities. Appendix 4

- Special Needs Patient Rights:

· Respect the dignity, autonomy and personal decisions of special needs patient.

· Assist special needs patient in moving inside the PSCC when needed.

· Ensure the availability of special procedures to protect people with special needs from all forms of abuse.

· Provide corridors and toilets suitable for the health status of special needs patients.

· Allocate private parking spaces for people with special needs.

Responsibilities:

• Comply with therapeutic regulations and guidelines, as follows:

- Bring proof of identity of the patient.

- Provide complete and accurate information about the patient, including personal data, past illness and health information.§ Responsible for keeping appointments and, when unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the Appointments department.

- Provide health service providers with the most accurate and complete information regarding past surgeries, past illnesses and hospitalizations, medications, present complaints, or any other patient health matters; and provide any medical reports that may be useful for the treatment of the patient§ Report any unexpected changes in the patient's health condition.

- Inform the doctor in case the patient is unable to understand the treatment plan and/ or planned interventions.

- Follow the treatment plan prescribed. The patient (or his/ her legal guardian) accepts responsibility for his or her actions should he or she refuses treatment or fails to follow instructions, and will be responsible for the consequent effects and complications.

- Commitment to implement the decision of transfer to another place or be discharged from PSCC, as determined by your physician.

- Refrain from leaving the inpatient ward or the PSCC without prior knowledge and permission of the health care practitioners responsible for his/ her condition.The patient assumes responsibility for his or her actions should he or she departs the PSCC and will be responsible for the consequent effects.

- Refrain from taking any type of medication other than provided by the nursing staff under the guidance medical team§ Refrain from consuming any type of food or beverages without prior consultation with the medical team and nursing staff.

- Refrain from requesting assistance from his/ her companion (watcher), a family member or a visitor in violating the instructions of the medical team and nursing staff.

- Preserving the property of the PSCC and the property of others.§ Using the facilities medical and non- medical equipments in the patient's room safely and correctly.

- Treating all PSCC personnel, patients, companions and visitors with courtesy and respect.

- Commitment to public decency in addition to respecting others personal values, cultural, social and religious beliefs.

- Respect the privacy of others.

- Adherence to PSCC regulations and guidelines.

- Observing safety and security regulations in the PSCC.

- Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the center.