Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0720 - Health Facilities Commission
Chapter 0720-27 - Standards for Home Care Organizations Providing Home Health Services
Section 0720-27-.12 - PATIENT RIGHTS

(a) To privacy in treatment and personal care;

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

(c) To be involved in the decision making of all aspects of their care;

(d) To be free from mental and physical abuse. Should this right be violated, the agency must notify the Department within five (5) business days and the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services as required by T.C.A. §§ 716-101 et seq.;

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

(f) To refuse experimental treatment and drugs. The patient's or health care decision maker's written consent for participation in research must be obtained and retained in the medical record; and

(g) 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 agency must have policies to govern access and duplication of the patient's record.