Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

According to the national patients' rights charter every patient has the right to:

• A healthy and safe environment
• Participation in decision-making
• Access to health care services which include:
• Receiving timely emergency care
• Treatment and rehabilitation
• Provision for special needs
• Counselling
• Palliative care
• A positive disposition
• Health information
• Knowledge of ones own health insurance / medical aid scheme
• Choice of health services
• Be treated by a named health care provider
• Confidentiality and privacy
• Informed consent
• Refusal of treatment
• Be referred for a second opinion
• Continuity of care
• Complain about health services

Every patient or client has the following responsibilities:

• To take care of his or her health.
• To care for and protect the environment.
• To respect the rights of other patients and health providers.
• To utilise the health care system properly and not abuse it.
• To know his or her local health service and what they offer.
• To provide health care providers with the relevant and accurate information for diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation or counselling purposes.
• To advise the health care providers on his or her wishes with regard to his or her death.
• To comply with the prescribed treatment or rehabilitation procedures.
• To enquire about the related costs of the treatment and / or rehabilitation and arrange for payment.
• To take care of health records in his or her possession.

If you feel that any of these rights have not been met please consult our complaints page.