Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0720 - Health Facilities Commission
Chapter 0720-14 - Standards for Hospitals
Section 0720-14-.12 - PATIENT RIGHTS

(a) To privacy in treatment and personal care;

(b) To be free from mental and physical abuse. Should this right be violated, the facility must notify the Department within five (5) working days. The Tennessee Department of Human Services, Adult Protection Services shall be notified immediately as required in T.C.A. § 71-6-103;

(c) To refuse treatment. The patient must be informed of the consequences of that decision, the refusal and its reason must be reported to the physician and documented in the medical record;

(d) To refuse experimental treatment and drugs. The patient's or health care decisionmaker's written consent for participation in research must be obtained and retained in his or her medical record;

(e) To have their records kept confidential and private. Written consent by the patient must be obtained prior to release of information except to persons authorized by law. If the patient lacks capacity, written consent is required from the patient's health care decision-maker. The hospital must have policies to govern access and duplication of the patient's record;

(f) To have access to a phone number to call if there are questions or complaints about care;

(g) To have appropriate assessment and management of pain; and

(h) To be involved in the decision making of all aspects of their care.