O'Connor Hospital believes every patient deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and concern regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, or source of payment, and it is our goal to assure that your rights as a patient are observed.

AS A PATIENT AT O'CONNOR HOSPITAL, YOUR RIGHTS SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

1. Notification to a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician upon your admission to the hospital. Expectation that the hospital will provide a reasonable response to your requests and needs for treatment/service within our capacity, stated mission, philosophy, and applicable laws/regulations during your hospitalization and post-discharge in order to ensure a reasonable continuity of care. You will be promptly transferred to another facility if we cannot meet your requests/needs for treatment; and will receive a complete explanation about the need for transfer and of alternatives to the transfer.
   
2. Receipt of considerate care that respects your psychosocial, spiritual, cultural values or belief systems provided they do not harm others or interfere with your medical treatment and freedom from all forms of abuse or harassment. You may wear appropriate personal clothing and religious/ symbolic items provided they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures/treatments. You may request a transfer to another room if a patient or visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing you, provided another room equally suitable for your care needs is available.
   
3. Communication with people inside/outside of the hospital. If you do not speak/understand English, you have the right to an interpreter. If you have a hearing impairment, you have access to a TDD or interpreter. Restrictions on communication will be fully explained to you and determined with your participation; and, such restrictions will be evaluated on a regular basis for therapeutic effectiveness.
   
4. Respectful responsive care if you are dying, including consideration of your comfort, dignity, spiritual, cultural and psychosocial needs and aggressive management of your pain, as desired by you or your designated representative.
   
5. Informed participation in decisions regarding your care. You have the right to know the names/professional status of persons providing service to you; which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for your care; the most complete/current information regarding your diagnosis, recommended treatment or procedure, including the name of the person who will perform it; prognosis; and any alternative course of treatment/non-treatment and the risks involved in each. Information shall be presented in language reasonable and understandable to you. You also have the right to consult with a specialist at your expense and request.
   
6. Accept/decline treatment to the extent permitted by law after receiving clear, concise information from your physician and to be informed of the consequences of refusing treatment. You should not be subjected to any non-emergency procedure without voluntary, competent and understanding consent on your part. Although we never recommend that patients assume the personal risk of rejecting their physician's advice by refusing treatment or by leaving the hospital, you have the right to leave the hospital against your physician's advice.

But wait, there are More Patient Rights.