What are my rights in the hospital?

You have rights and can make decisions about your care. The hospital must help you understand and use your rights to:

• Get emergency care if you need it.
• Get respectful care in a clean and safe environment. 
• Get an interpreter if you need one.
• Get medical care without discrimination. The hospital cannot discriminate based on your  race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age or source of payment. 
• Get complete information about your diagnosis, treatment, and if you will get better. This includes information to help you:
  • agree or disagree to the treatment 
  • understand the risks and benefits of the treatment
• You can say no to the hospital. You can:
  • Refuse treatment and be told how that may affect your health. 
  • Refuse resuscitation (restarting your breathing or heartbeat). You can assign someone to decide this if you are too sick to decide.  
• Decide who can visit you.
• The hospital may restrain you for safety reasons only (example: ties you to the hospital bed so you don't hurt yourself or anyone else). These are the rules and limits:
  • A doctor examines you and writes the order to restrain you. In an emergency, a registered nurse can write the order, and contact the doctor. 
  • The restraint is for a limited time. 
  • The hospital staff must check on you at least every 30 minutes if you are restrained.
• Get the name and position of the doctor and all hospital staff who are in charge of your care in the hospital.  
• The hospital must keep information and records about your care private. 
• You can participate in your treatment and discharge (leaving) decisions: 
  • The hospital must give you a written discharge plan and how you can appeal if you don't want to be discharged.  
  • You can include a caregiver in the discharge plans
• Review your medical record without charge and get a copy. The hospital can charge a reasonable fee to copy your records unless you can't afford to pay. 
• Get a bill that lists and explains all the charges.
• See the hospital’s standard charges for items and services and the health plans the hospital participates with. 
• Challenge a bill you disagree with through the Independent Dispute Resolution process. 
• Complain about the hospital's care and services and request a written response from the hospital. If you are not satisfied with the hospital's response, you can complain to the New York State Health Department. The hospital must give you the State Health Department telephone number. 
•  Refuse to take part in research. You have the right to know all about the research, to help you decide 
• Decide to donate your organs, if you are at least 16 years old. Sign up with the NYS Donate Life Registry or write it in a health care proxy, will, donor card, or other signed paper. The hospital has a health care proxy form.

Help for senior citizens

Click below for a 48 page New York State Health Department guide to your rights.