Patients' rights and responsibilities

Rights and responsibilities of patients of Sumy Regional Clinical Oncology Center

(Developed on the basis of the Law of Ukraine No. 2801-XII of 19 November 1992 “Fundamentals of the Legislation of Ukraine on Health Care”).

During inpatient examination and treatment, the patient has the right to:

1. Preventive medical measures.
2. Accessible health care.
3. Freedom of choice in health care, including free choice of doctor, choice of treatment methods in line with the doctor's recommendations, choice of healthcare facility, a change of doctor, and treatment abroad if such care cannot be provided at healthcare facilities in Ukraine.
4. Qualified medical care in line with the hospital's available treatment and diagnostic capabilities.
5. Meals and medicines (dressings and suture materials, anesthesia agents, etc.) — within the actual funding of the hospital (department).
6. Reliable medical information about their state of health, the examination and treatment provided, and existing and possible risk factors and their degree when undergoing surgery, complex diagnostic tests, procedures or blood transfusion. If information about the patient's illness may worsen their health or the health of the individuals specified in part two of this article, or harm the treatment process, medical professionals have the right to provide incomplete information about the patient's health and to limit their access to certain medical records.
7. Consent to medical intervention and refusal of medical intervention.
8. Refuse the proposed treatment, operations, diagnostic tests or blood transfusion and confirm the refusal in writing after the doctor has explained the possible consequences. In emergencies, when there is a real threat to the patient's life, the consent of the patient or their legal representatives to medical intervention is not required, and the decision is made by a panel of doctors.
9. Medical confidentiality.
10. High-quality medical care.
11. Safe medical care.
12. Prevention of suffering and pain, as far as possible.
13. An individual approach to treatment.
14. Appeal against unlawful decisions and actions of healthcare workers, healthcare facilities and health authorities.
15. Compensation for harm caused to their health.
16. Life and respect for their dignity when receiving medical care.
17. Protection from any unlawful forms of discrimination related to their state of health.
18. Require medical workers to keep information about their diagnosis, the treatment provided and the duration of their illness confidential from outsiders, except in cases provided for by law.
19. Receive visitors (relatives, loved ones) in the department during the hours set by the internal rules.

The patient must:

1. Take care of their health and not harm the health of others.
2. Undergo preventive medical check-ups and get vaccinated.
3. Give emergency first aid to other people whose life or health is in danger until medical staff arrive.
4. Follow the internal rules of the healthcare facility, the daily routine of the department, and the rules of personal and collective hygiene.
5. Keep the ward and other department premises clean and tidy and, if their health allows, tidy their own bed and bedside table.
6. Give the attending doctor complete information about previous illnesses, hospitalizations and other matters related to their health.
7. Strictly follow the hospital rules and the treatment plan, and comply with the doctor's prescriptions and recommendations (except for patients with impaired consciousness or mental activity).
8. Take all medicines in the presence of a nurse.
9. Stay in the department (ward) during doctors' rounds, treatment procedures and rest hours.
10. In emergencies, when there is a real threat to life, receive medical care without their own consent or the consent of a legal representative.
11. Accept from relatives only food approved by the doctor, in reasonable quantities.
12. Use the department's property (furniture, bedding and equipment) with care.
13. Hand over money and other valuables for safekeeping, against a receipt, to the department's housekeeping nurse.

Rules of conduct for patients of the Oncology Center

1. Patients must follow the schedule of the department and of the facility as a whole.
2. Patients must give doctors complete information about their health, past illnesses, surgeries and allergic reactions.
3. Patients must follow all prescriptions and recommendations of the doctor or the multidisciplinary tumor board correctly and on time.
4. The patient must arrive at the scheduled time for tests and for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
5. While in the inpatient unit, the patient must take treatment strictly as prescribed by the doctor and must not self-medicate.
6. Inpatients must take medicines in the presence of a nurse.
7. The patient must report any signs of deterioration immediately: to the attending doctor or the head of department during the day, and to the medical staff on duty in the evening, at night, on weekends and on public holidays.
8. Patients must follow the rules of personal hygiene.
9. Inpatients may eat only in the dining room.
10. Food may be stored only in refrigerators, in plastic bags labeled with the patient's surname, ward number and the date it was brought in.
11. Patients must keep the wards and other premises of the facility clean and tidy and follow the sanitary and hygiene requirements of the department.
12. Making noise, smoking, drinking alcohol and gambling at the healthcare facility are prohibited.
13. Patients and visitors may enter inpatient departments only after changing into indoor clothes and shoes.
14. Patients may not leave the inpatient department without permission.
15. Walks outdoors are possible only with the attending doctor's permission during the warm season.
16. Patients may be visited only at the set times.
17. Visiting patients in the departments is possible only with the permission of the head of department.
18. Keeping money, valuables and documents in the ward is prohibited. The administration of the Oncology Center is not responsible for the loss of valuables or money.
19. Patients must treat the facility's property with care and not damage it. If a patient or their visitors damage the facility's property, those responsible must compensate for the material damage in accordance with current legislation.
20. Patients must avoid conflicts with other patients and be polite to one another.
21. Patients must treat the facility's staff with respect and avoid rude behavior.
22. The patient may review the entries in their inpatient medical record with the permission of the head of department or the doctor.
23. Patients must follow fire and electrical safety rules.
24. The patient may address suggestions, comments and complaints to the attending doctor, the head of department or the facility's administration (orally or in writing).
25. If a patient violates the hospital regimen or does not follow these rules, the attending doctor has the right to record the violation on the sick leave certificate and discharge the patient from the inpatient unit (taking into account the severity of their condition), after agreeing on the discharge with the head of department.
26. In exceptional cases, by decision of the administration, a patient may be refused further diagnostic and treatment care in the event of:

• gross violation of the prescribed regimen;
• failure to follow the recommendations of the attending doctor or the multidisciplinary tumor board;
• failure to fulfill the patient's responsibilities;
• failure to follow the facility's rules of conduct for patients;
• violation of moral and ethical standards of behavior toward the facility's medical staff, other patients or visitors.

The patient's rights and responsibilities are set out in accordance with Articles 3, 28, 29, 32, 34, 40, 49, 64 and 68 of the Constitution of Ukraine; Articles 281, 283, 284, 285, 286, 289, 297, 302, 1166, 1167, 1168, 1195–1203 and 1206 of the Civil Code of Ukraine; Articles 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 39-1, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 78 and 80 of the Law of Ukraine “Fundamentals of the Legislation of Ukraine on Health Care”; and Article 13 of the Law of Ukraine “On Measures to Prevent and Reduce the Use of Tobacco Products and Their Harmful Effects on Public Health”.