GUWAHATI, June 24 - Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust on Thursday observed the Patients� Rights Day as part of its �Stop Medical Terrorism� movement, which is launched to ensure better and transparent healthcare services in India.
A few civil society organizations, including the Ahom Sena, Priyobandhu, CLPF, among others, came forward to support the cause and make the movement against medical terrorism a vibrant one.
According to a press release issued here, the Trust said that in consultation with a panel of medical professionals of national and international repute, it has drafted a 10-point list of patients� rights and a draft 10-point list of responsibilities of the patients.
The rights and responsibilities of the patients are made available at http://smt.armt.in in several languages. It�s a two page document. The Trust requests everyone to support the cause by downloading the document in their preferred language, printing it out and distributing it among patients in any hospital in India.
The Trust also requests supporters to post a photo of the distribution of the document with ?#?patientsrightsday? in any social media.
The rights mentioned in the draft include the right to get the best possible medical care without discrimination; right to prompt, life-saving treatment; right to take part in all decisions relating to one�s health care; right to privacy; right to know the identity and role of people involved in treatment; right to dignity and to have caregivers� respect; right to appropriate assessment and management of pain; right to receive visitors; right to refuse treatment and to leave the medical centre; and right to get necessary information related to the line of treatment as well as all health records.
The responsibilities mentioned in the draft include the responsibility to refrain from misbehaving and misconduct towards any medical service providers; responsibility to refrain from physical assault on any healthcare personnel or damage to property; responsibility to be truthful; responsibility to provide complete and accurate medical history; responsibility to cooperate with the agreed line of treatment; responsibility to meet the financial obligations; responsibility to refrain from initiating, participating or supporting fraudulent and illegal healthcare practices; responsibility to report illegal or unethical behaviour; responsibility to get a post-mortem done and responsibility to discuss end of life decisions, said the press release.
