New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Chapter V - Medical Facilities
Subchapter A - Medical Facilities-minimum Standards
Article 2 - Hospitals
Part 405 - Hospitals-Minimum Standards
Section 405.7 - Patients' rights

(1) each patient or the patient representative shall be given a copy of their rights as set forth in subdivision (c) of this section at the time of admission;

(2) for outpatients and emergency service patients, copies of these rights shall be provided to each patient or his/her representative;

(3) a copy of these rights shall also be posted in clearly viewed areas of the hospital, at readable heights, including the admitting office, patient floors and outpatient department and the emergency service waiting areas;

(4) inservice training shall be provided to all patient care staff to assure their knowledge and understanding of patients' rights requirements;

(5) the hospital shall communicate effectively to each inpatient or patient representative after admission an explanation of those rights and provide information on how these rights can be exercised. Patients shall be offered a choice at admission to have or to decline an in-person explanation of these rights. The hospital shall maintain documentation of such communication;

(6) the hospital shall make available designated staff to answer questions regarding patients' rights for outpatients and emergency service patients. Patients shall be notified of the availability of these services; and

(7) the hospital shall develop a language assistance program to ensure meaningful access to the hospital's services and reasonable accommodation for all patients who require language assistance. Program requirements shall include:

(1) exercise these rights regardless of the patient's language or impairment of hearing or vision. Skilled interpreters shall be provided to assist patients in using these rights;

(2) treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, or source of payment;

(3) considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment;

(4) receive emergency medical care as indicated by the patient's medical condition upon arrival at the hospital;

(5) limit the use of physical restraints to those patient restraints authorized in writing by a physician after a personal examination of the patient, for a specified and limited period of time to protect the patient from injury to himself or to others. In an emergency, the restraint may be applied only by or under the supervision of and at the direction of a registered professional nurse who shall set forth in writing the circumstances requiring the use of restraints. In such emergencies, a physician shall be immediately summoned and pending the arrival of the physician, the patient shall be kept under continuous supervision as warranted by the patient's physical condition and emotional state. At frequent intervals while restraints are in use the patient's physical needs, comfort and safety shall be monitored. An assessment of the patient's condition shall be made at least once every 30 minutes or at more frequent intervals if directed by a physician;

(6) the name of the medical staff member who has the responsibility for coordinating his/her care and the right to discuss with his/her practitioner the type of care being rendered;

(7) the name, position and function of any person providing treatment to the patient;

(8) obtain from the responsible medical staff member complete current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand. The patient shall be advised of any change in health status, including harm or injury, the cause for the change and the recommended course of treatment. The information shall be made available to an appropriate person on the patient's behalf and documented in the patient's medical record, if the patient is not competent to receive such information;

(9) receive information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any nonemergency procedure or treatment or both. An informed consent shall include, as a minimum, the specific procedure or treatment or both, the reasons for it, the reasonably foreseeable risks and benefits involved, and the alternatives for care or treatment, if any, as a reasonable practitioner under similar circumstances would disclose. Documented evidence of such informed consent shall be included in the patient's medical record;

(10) refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the reasonably foreseeable consequences of such refusal;

(11) receive from the responsible medical staff or designated hospital representatives information necessary to give informed consent prior to the withholding of medical care and treatment;

(12) privacy consistent with the provision of appropriate care to the patient;

(13) confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to the patient's treatment, except as otherwise provided by law;

(14) a response by the hospital, in a reasonable manner, to the patient's request for services customarily rendered by the hospital consistent with the patient's treatment;

(15) be informed by the responsible medical staff member or appropriate hospital staff of the patient's continuing health care requirements following discharge, and before any transfer to another facility, all relevant information about the need for and all reasonable alternatives to such a transfer;

(16) prior to discharge, receive an appropriate written discharge plan and a written description of the patient discharge review process available to the patient under Federal or State law;

(17) the identity of any hospital personnel including students that the hospital has authorized to participate in the patient's treatment and the right to refuse treatment, examination and/or observation by any personnel;

(18) refuse to participate in research and human experimentation in accordance with Federal and State law;

(19) examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill, regardless of source of payment;

(20) be informed of the hospital rules and regulations that apply to a patient's conduct;

(21) be admitted to a nonsmoking area;

(22) register complaints and recommend changes in policies and services to the facility's staff, the governing authority and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal;

(23) express complaints about the care and services provided and to have the hospital investigate such complaints. The hospital shall provide the patient or his/her designee with a written response if requested by the patient indicating the findings of the investigation. The hospital shall notify the patient or his/her designee that if the patient is not satisfied with the hospital's oral or written response, the patient may complain to the New York State Department of Health's Office of Health Systems Management. The hospital shall provide the telephone number of the local area office of the Health Department to the patient;

(24) obtain access to his/her medical record pursuant to the provisions of Part 50 of this Title. The hospital may impose reasonable charges for all copies of medical records provided to patients, not to exceed costs incurred by the hospital. A patient shall not be denied a copy of his/her medical record solely because of inability to pay; and

(25) receive supportive services to meet the changing care needs of the patient and the patient's family/representative provided by qualified individuals who collectively have expertise in assessing the special needs of hospital patients and their families.

(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, gender identity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, 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 and refuse their treatment, examination or observation.

(7) Identify a caregiver who will be included in your discharge planning and sharing of post-discharge care information or instruction.

(8) Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

(9) Receive all the information that 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 Deciding about Health Care-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) View a list of the hospital's standard charges for items and services and the health plans the hospital participates with.

(18) Challenge an unexpected bill through the independent dispute resolution process.

(19) 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.

(20) Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors.

(21) Make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. Persons 16 years of age or older may document their consent to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissues, upon their death, by enrolling in the NYS Donate Life Registry or by documenting their authorization for organ and/or tissue donation in writing in a number of ways (such as health care proxy, will, donor card, or other signed paper). The health care proxy is available from the hospital.

(1) The hospital must ask each patient or the patient's representative for the name of his or her primary care provider, if known, and shall document such information in the patient's medical record.

(2) The hospital may admit pediatric patients only to the extent consistent with their ability to provide qualified staff, space and size appropriate equipment necessary for the unique needs of pediatric patients.

(3) To the extent possible given the patient's health and safety, the hospital shall allow at least one parent/guardian to remain with the patient at all times.

(4) All test results completed during the patient's admission or emergency room visit will be reviewed by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner who is familiar with the patient's presenting condition.

(5) Patients may not be discharged from the hospital or the emergency room until any tests that could reasonably be expected to yield "critical value" results - results that suggest a life-threatening or otherwise significant condition such that it requires immediate medical attention - are reviewed by a physician, physician assistant (PA) and/or nurse practitioner (NP) and are communicated to the patient, his or her parents or other decision-makers, as appropriate.

(6) Patients may not be discharged until they receive a written discharge plan, which will also be verbally communicated to patients, their parents or other medical decision-makers, which will identify critical value results of laboratory or other diagnostic tests ordered during the patient's stay and identify any other tests that have not yet been concluded.

(7) The communication of critical value results and the discussion of the discharge plan must be accomplished in a manner that reasonably assures that the patient, their parents or other medical decision makers understand the health information provided in order to make appropriate health decisions.

(8) Hospitals shall provide all lab results to the patient's primary care provider, if known.

(9) A patient, his or her parent or other medical decision maker has the right to request information about the diagnosis, possible diagnoses that were considered and complications that could develop as well as information about any contact that was made with the patient's primary care provider.

(10) On discharge, the hospital must provide a patient, his or her parent or other medical decision maker a phone number that the patient, his or her parent or other medical decision maker could call for advice in the event that complications or questions arise.