Patient’s Obligations

  1. Supply of Information
    You are responsible for providing according to your best understanding, precise and complete information on your complaints, previous diseases, hospitalizations, drugs and other matters related to your health.
  2. Compliance with Instructions
    You are responsible for following the plan of treatment recommended by the professional mainly responsible for your care. You are responsible for keeping your appointments and for communicating whether or not you understand the course of action to be undertaken in treatment.
  3. Refusal of Treatment
    You are responsible for your actions, if you refuse to receive treatment or follow the instructions of the practitioner.
  4. Regulations and Statutes of the Hospital/ Health Facility
    You are responsible for observing hospital regulations and statutes that relate to the treatment and the behavior of the patient.
  5. Respect and Considerations
    You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of others patients and the personnel of the health facility.
  6. Financial Obligations
    If you assume financial obligation for your health care, then it is your responsibility to see that this is settled in due time.

Patient’s Right

You have the right to:

  1. Access to Treatment – Every individual including minors, the homeless and persons with disabilities should be given impartial access to treatment without considering his/her race, religion gender or social class.
  2. Respect – You have the right to receive respectful treatment from providers of health care at all times and under all circumstances.
  3. Privacy and Confidentiality – You have the right to privacy with respect to your person and to information.
  4. Personal Safety/ Security – You have the right to expect reasonable security and that your personal property will be relatively secured whilst at the health facility.
  5. Freedom from Abuse – You shall be protected from mental, sexual and physical abuse or the intentional and nom-therapeutic infliction of physical pain or injury.
  6. Identity – You have the right to know the identity and professional position of individuals who are providing you with service.
  7. Information –  You have the right to receive current information on your diagnosis, treatment alternatives, risks and prognosis
  8. Communication – You have the right to access people other than hospital personnel, through visitors and through oral and written communication.
  9. Consent – You have the right to be informed     about and to participate in the decisions related to your health and treatment.
  10. Consultations – Under petition and at your own expense, you have the right to participate in the planning of your health care.
  11. Refusal of treatment – You have the right to refuse treatment or care.
  12. Respect for Culture/ Religion – You have the right to manifestation of your cultural and/or religious expressions whilst admitted, as long as they do not interfere with the normal activities of the health facility.
  13. Complaints – You have the right to file a complaint when you consider your rights infringed.
  14. Patient’s Records -You or your authorized representative have the right to access a copy of your records.
  15. Participation in Planning Treatment -You have the right to participate in the planning of your health care.
  16. Notification of Family Members –If you are brought to a facility unconcious, or comatose or unable to communicate, the facility shall make reasonable efforts to contact a family member or person designated.
  17. Continuity of Care –You have the right to be cared for with reasonable regularity and continuity of staff assignment as far as facility policy allow
  18. Medical and Nursing Services  You shall expect to receive medical and nursing care from professionals registered, enrolled or listed by the regulatory Councils.
  19. Primary Care Services -At some of the District Health Facilities you can expect extended hours of services, X-rays, laboratory tests, specialist clinics, health promotion information and visits from the health visitor, district nurse or midwife as necessary.
  20. General Practitioner, Pharmaceutical, Ophthalmological and Dental Services –You have the right to receive information about services and medication, ophthalmological care and dental care from a suitably qualified professional registered to practice in Trinidad and Tobago. You have the right to knowledge of the cost of your prescription and the right to view the expiration date before deciding to purchase. You have the right to retain attached literature of the medications purchased.