Hospital Information: Patients' Rights

As a patient in a hospital in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:

1. Understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand or you need help, the hospital must provide assistance, including an interpreter.
2. Receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or source of payment.
3. Receive considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment free of unnecessary restraints.
4. Receive emergency care if you need it.
5. Be informed of the name and position of the doctor who will be in charge of your care in the hospital.
6. Know the names, positions, and functions of any hospital staff involved in your care in the hospital and refuse their treatment, examination, or observation.
7. A no smoking room.
8. Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
9. Receive all the information you need to give informed consent for any proposed procedure or treatment. This information shall include the possible risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment.
10. Receive all the information you need to give informed consent for an order not to resuscitate. You also have the right to designate an individual to give this consent for you if you are too ill to do so. If you would like additional information, please ask for a copy of the pamphlet “Do Not Resuscitate Orders - A Guide for Patients and Families.”
11. Refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.
12. Refuse to take part in research. In deciding whether or not to participate, you have the right to a full explanation.
13. Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your care.
14. Participate in all decisions about your treatment and discharge from the hospital. The hospital must provide you with a written discharge plan and written description of how you can appeal your discharge.
15. Review your medical record without charge and obtain a copy of your medical record for which the hospital can charge a reasonable fee. You cannot be denied a copy solely because you cannot afford to pay.
16. Receive an itemized bill and explanation of all charges.
17. Complain without fear of reprisals about the care and services you are receiving and to have the hospital respond to you, and if you request it, a written response. If you are not satisfied with the hospital's response, you can complain to the New York State Health Department. The hospital must provide you with the Health Department telephone number.
18. Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors.
19. Make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. You may document your wishes in your health care proxy or on a donor card, available from the hospital.

If you have any questions regarding your rights or responsibilities as a patient of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, please contact a Patient Representative at 212 639-7202.

Patients' Responsibilities

This statement of Patients' Responsibilities was designed to demonstrate that we at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center believe that mutual trust, respect, and cooperation are basic to the delivery of quality health care.

When you are a patient at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, it is your responsibility to:

1. Provide accurate and complete information about your past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to your health.
2. Tell your physician or nurse if you do not understand your treatment.
3. Inform your physician or nurse if there is a change in your condition or if problems arise during your treatment.
4. Provide accurate information related to insurance or other sources of payment. Patients are responsible for assuring prompt payment of their bills. Tell us if you are having financial problems so that we may assist you in a timely manner.
5. Understand that it may become necessary to transfer you to another bed within the hospital.
6. Be courteous and considerate of other patients and of hospital staff. Patients are expected to assist in maintaining a quiet environment and to be respectful of hospital property.
7. Honor our No Smoking policy.
8. Observe our visiting hours and inform your visitors of our policy.
9. Honor our check-out time on the day you are discharged.