healthcare rights

Question 1

australian charter of healthcare rights

Answer 1

• Outlines rights of patients, consumers, and others in the Australian healthcare system.
• Ensures high-quality, safe healthcare across all Australian settings.
• Applies to public and private hospitals, general practice, and community environments.
• Aims to provide common understanding of healthcare rights for patients, families, carers, and service providers.
• Available in 17 languages, braille, and audio for wider accessibility.

Question 2

guiding principles

Answer 2

1. Emphasizes the right to healthcare for all.
2. Commits to international human rights agreements.
3. Acknowledges and respects diverse cultures and lifestyles.

Question 3

healthcare rights

Answer 3

• Access: Individuals have the right to healthcare services to meet their needs.
• Safety: Safe and high-quality care is guaranteed, provided by professionals with skill and competence.
• Respect: Care should show respect, dignity, and consideration, considering individual culture, beliefs, values, and personal characteristics.
• Communication: Clear, timely, and appropriate information about services, treatment, options, and costs is provided.
• Participation: Individuals have the right to be included in decisions and choices about their care.
• Privacy: Personal information should be kept private and handled properly.
• Comment: Individuals have the right to express concerns about their care and have them addressed promptly.

Question 4

patient rights

Answer 4

• Obtaining diagnosis and treatment costs.
• Seeking medical opinions on condition.
• Managing hospital visits for family and friends.
• Ensuring privacy and access to medical records.
• Receiving respectful, dignified treatment.
• Receiving support from nurses and allied health professionals.
• Participating in care decisions.
• Complaining about hospital or medical treatment aspects.

Question 5

patient responsibilities

Answer 5

• Provide information about past and present illnesses, hospitalisations, medications, and health history.
• Ask questions about proposed healthcare risks and benefits.
• Follow medical orders to achieve best treatment outcomes.
• Report safety concerns immediately.
• Treat medical staff with respect.
• Ask about costs before treatment.
• Ensure out-of-pocket expenses are paid within the required time frame.

Question 6

privacy and confidentiality

Answer 6

• Protects patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Healthcare professionals must adhere to these laws.
• Patients have right to maintain condition and treatment confidentiality.
• Patients have right to access their health information.

Question 7

medical confidentiality

Answer 7

• Rules ensuring doctor-patient discussions remain private.
• Patient has choice to share previous medical records with new doctor.

Question 8

privacy

Answer 8

• Patient information, doctor-stored data, and prescribed medications are kept private.
• Exceptions include child patients allowing parents to access their own medical information.
• Carers may access adult information under their care.

Question 9

exemption to privacy laws

Answer 9

• Serious threat to patient or others’ health and safety: Information sharing may be necessary for paramedics, doctors, or nurses to determine if a patient is allergic to drugs.
• Preventing serious threat to public health or safety: Information sharing can be used to warn the public about serious health outbreaks.

Question 10

my health record

Answer 10

• Established in 2019 by the Australian Government Digital health agency.
• Provides an online summary of an individual’s key health information.
• Recorded from GP visits, specialist visits, pharmacy prescriptions, and test results.
• Enables sharing of health information between patients and doctors.