Patient Rights Charter

  • Access to Services Commensurate with Needs: Every patient has the right to receive care, health, and treatment services commensurate with their needs. These services, including prevention, health, and treatment, must be provided fairly, without discrimination, and accessibly to all.
  • Prompt Attention to Medical Emergencies: The patient has the right to be attended to promptly in medical emergency situations.
  • Universal Access to Standard Care: All individuals, regardless of social standing, have the right to benefit from accessible health and treatment care with professional standards.
  • Respectful and Non-Discriminatory Care: The patient has the right to receive accurate, respectful, humane, and equitable services, provided without regard to race, skin color, gender, nationality, occupation, religion, or source of payment.
  • Right to Refuse Treatment: The patient has the right, within the framework of the law, to refuse treatment and to be informed of the consequences of their decision.
  • Refusal of Unnecessary Examination: The patient has the right to refuse examination or observation by individuals not directly involved in their care.
  • Coordinated and Continuous Care: The patient has the right to benefit from coordinated and continuous health and treatment services.
  • Continuity of Care and Transparency: The patient has the right to expect a reasonable level of continuity of care and to know in advance which physician, at what time and place, and how they can be accessed.
  • Cooperation of Service Providers: The patient has the right to the cooperation of all health and treatment service providers and related institutions for the continuation of their care.
  • Respect for Privacy: Every hospitalized patient has the right to be hospitalized, examined, educated, and treated with respect for their personality and privacy. Treatment interventions should only be performed in the presence of individuals directly involved in their care.
  • Access to Needs-Appropriate Services: Every patient has the right to receive care, health, and treatment services appropriate to their needs. These services, including prevention, health, and treatment, must be provided to everyone fairly, without discrimination, and accessibly.
  • Prompt Attention to Medical Emergencies: In medical emergencies, the patient has the right to be attended to promptly.
  • Universal Access to Standard Care: All individuals, regardless of social standing, have the right to benefit from accessible health and treatment care with professional standards.
  • Respectful and Non-Discriminatory Care: The patient has the right to receive accurate, respectful, humane, and fair services, provided without regard to race, skin color, gender, nationality, occupation, religion, or source of payment.
  • Right to Refuse Treatment: The patient has the right, within the legal framework, to refuse treatment and to be informed of the consequences of their decision.
  • Right to Refuse Unnecessary Examination: The patient has the right to refuse examination or observation by individuals not directly involved in their care.
  • Coordinated and Continuous Care: The patient has the right to benefit from coordinated and continuous health and treatment services.
  • Continuity of Care and Transparency: The patient has the right to expect a reasonable level of care continuity and to know in advance which physician, at what time and place, and how they can be accessed.
  • Cooperation of Service Providers: The patient has the right to the cooperation of all health and treatment service providers and related institutions for the continuity of their care.
  • Respect for Privacy: Every hospitalized patient has the right to be admitted, examined, educated, and treated with respect for their personality and privacy. Therapeutic interventions should only be performed in the presence of individuals directly involved in their care.
  • Receiving Complete and Understandable Information: The patient has the right to receive up-to-date and comprehensive information from their attending physician regarding their illness, treatment methods, and prognosis in simple and understandable language. If providing this information to the patient is not medically advisable, the information should be provided to a person designated by the patient. The patient also has the right to know the name of the physician coordinating their care.
  • Information Prior to Informed Consent: The patient has the right to receive necessary information before signing a consent form prior to the start of treatment. This information, except in medical emergencies, includes but is not limited to diagnostic and therapeutic methods, potential complications, and duration of disability.
  • Awareness of Alternative Treatment Options: If other treatment methods exist or the patient requests further information, this information should be provided in simple and understandable language.
  • Identification of Treatment Personnel: The patient has the right to know the name and identity of the individuals responsible for their diagnosis or treatment.
  • Awareness of Hospital Affiliations: The patient has the right to be informed of the hospital’s affiliations with educational centers or related health organizations involved in their treatment and to know their names.
  • Patient Assessment and Referral: The patient has the right to expect the hospital to fulfill their requests for services to the best of its ability. The hospital is obligated to assess the patient’s condition and provide necessary care or, if needed, refer them to other centers based on urgency. In case of transfer, the attending physician must explain the reasons for the transfer and alternative options, if medically permissible, to the patient.
  • Awareness of Hospital Rules: The patient has the right to be informed of the hospital’s rules and regulations that affect them.
  • Participation in Decision-Making: The patient has the right to legally and informedly participate in all decisions related to their health and treatment care.
  • Self-Care Education: Hospital staff should educate the patient on how to care for themselves so that they are aware of their basic needs and achieve an optimal level of health.
  • Awareness of Patient Rights: The patient has the right to be informed of all their rights throughout all stages of care.
  • Identification of Service Providers: The patient has the right to know the identity and professional qualifications of all individuals providing medical and health services.
  • Awareness of Experimental Programs and Other Center Treatments: The patient has the right to be informed of the experimental treatment programs at the treating facility and the treatment methods offered at other centers.
  • Explanation of Transfer Reasons: Before being transferred to another healthcare facility, the reasons for the transfer must be explained to the patient. If the patient disagrees, they have the right to consult with specialists.
  • Notification of Discharge Time: The patient has the right to be informed of their discharge time at least one day in advance and to consult with specialists regarding the appropriateness of the discharge time.
  • Access to Medical Records: Upon discharge, the patient has the right to receive a copy of their medical records and to easily access these records.
  • Review of Bill: The patient has the right to review a complete itemized bill for services received, regardless of the source of payment, and to receive necessary explanations.
  • Information on Financial Assistance: The patient has the right to receive full explanations regarding how to obtain financial assistance from public and private sources to cover hospital costs.
  • Receiving Treatment Information in Understandable Language: The patient has the right to receive accurate and complete information about their treatment plan in understandable language and in the required manner. If necessary, translation services must be provided free of charge.
  • Review of Medical Record: The patient has the right, upon their request, to read and review their medical record.
  • Access to an Interpreter: Patients who are not proficient in the local language have the right to access an interpreter.
  • Consultation with Specialists: The patient has the right to consult with specialists about their medical condition at their own expense.
  • Awareness of Costs: The patient has the right to receive sufficient information about the costs of health and treatment services such as medication, medical services, and surgery.
  • Designating a Representative for Information: The patient has the right to designate individuals to be informed of the details of their illness on their behalf.
  • Respect for Personal Privacy: The patient has the right to have their personal privacy, both individual and informational, respected by hospital staff, non-treating physicians, residents, interns, medical students, specialists, nurses, and other patients.
  • Confidentiality during Care: During the implementation of care plans, the patient’s personal privacy must be maintained. Discussions about the patient’s consultation, examination, and treatment should be conducted confidentially and with utmost discretion.
  • Confidentiality of Communications and Records: The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records related to their care remain confidential.
  • Maintaining Medical Information Confidentiality: All information in the patient’s medical record, except in legal cases or at the request of insurance companies, must remain confidential. Furthermore, information related to the patient’s written or verbal interactions with healthcare providers should be considered confidential.
  • Confidentiality of Payment Source: The patient has the right to have the source of payment for their care and treatment remain confidential.
  • Protection of Electronic Information: When processing medical information and converting it to electronic formats, the right to confidentiality and protection of the patient’s medical records must be observed.
  • Autonomous Decision-Making: Every patient has the right to make autonomous decisions about matters related to their own health. The physician is obligated to inform the patient of the consequences of their decision.
  • Acceptance or Refusal of Treatment: Every mentally competent, adult, and informed patient has the right to accept or refuse any diagnostic or treatment process. The patient also has the right to receive the necessary information to make decisions about their treatment method.
  • Consent in Special Circumstances: If the patient has lost consciousness or is unable to express their wishes, if possible, treatment consent must be obtained from the patient or their legal representative.
  • Leaving the Healthcare Facility: A patient, regardless of their physical or financial status, has the right to leave the healthcare facility. Before leaving, the patient must sign a document stating that they are leaving the healthcare facility against medical advice.
  • Pain and Suffering Relief: The patient has the right to benefit from measures to reduce their pain and suffering based on current medical knowledge.
  • Humane Care in Final Stages: Every patient is entitled to receive humane care in the final stages of life.
  • Refusal of Painful Tests: The patient has the right to refuse painful and lengthy tests.
  • Receiving Spiritual Support: Every patient has the right to receive help and assistance from their preferred clergy for spiritual peace.
  • Grievance Regarding Rights Violation: Every patient has the right to object and file a complaint in case of violation of their legal rights.
  • Complaints Regarding Healthcare Services: Patients have the right to object to the healthcare and treatment services provided. These complaints must be investigated, and a logical and appropriate response must be given to the patient.
  • Importance of Privacy: The protection of individuals’ privacy is recognized as a fundamental need and an important concept in humans. This privacy encompasses physical, psychological, social, and informational dimensions. Protecting patient information, which is a key aspect of care in hospitals and healthcare centers, means maintaining the confidentiality of information and preventing the provision of inaccurate information. The most common problems related to maintaining patient privacy include noise, disruptive factors, limited space, barriers, and existing restrictions within hospitals.
  • Respecting Privacy in Medical Procedures: The patient has the right to have their personal privacy respected during interviews, examinations, and treatment.
  • Maintaining Privacy During Visits: The patient has the right to have their personal privacy respected during visits with others.
  • Access to Private Communications: During their hospital stay, the patient has the right to communicate with their acquaintances through telephone calls or private visits.
  • Respect for Peace and Confidentiality: The patient’s right to maintain peace and confidentiality in all treatment and educational procedures must be respected.