Bill of Rights calls for medical information privacy
Bill of Rights calls for medical information privacy
Patients deserve the same guarantee of protection of their rights when they visit a doctor or check into a hospital as consumers who purchase cars, use credit cards, or buy toys for their children, President Clinton recently said in announcing support for a Health Care Consumer Bill of Rights.
The president said consumers also deserve the security of knowing that their medical records are safe from prying eyes. With all the changes taking place in health care as traditional indemnity insurance plans are overtaken by managed care plans, health care consumers need to be assured of certain standards of health care practices.
The bill of rights, presented in late November by a presidential advisory commission, contains some items requiring federal legislation to enact, and are "long overdue," the president said in November.
Some major provisions of the President’s bill of rights include:
• the right to be informed about health plans, hospitals, and doctors in plain English;
• the right to choose the right doctor for the right type of care;
• the right to emergency medical services whenever and wherever needed;
• the right to know all medical options, no matter the cost;
• the right to respectful care and equal treatment at every health care facility by every health care provider;
• the right to know medical records are confidential and used only for legitimate purposes;
• the right to express concerns about quality of care and to take action when that care is inadequate. t
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