Your Rights As a Patient: What you should know.

Your Rights As a Patient.
Today we will talk about the rights of a patient in a hospital.
A lot of patients do not know that they have rights they must insist on whenever they visit hospital or go to see a doctor. 
Here are four important rights you must know and insist on when next you visit a hospital.
1. Right to Autonomy: 
What this means is that, as a patient, you have the right to make decisions about your own health. You deserve to know your diagnosis, you deserve to understand your prescriptions, and it is also well within your rights to either accept or decline any treatment offered to you.
You also have the right to privacy and confidentiality. Meaning that, whatsoever you share with your doctor must remain confidential, except in specific legal situations like, risk to life, sexual abuse or sexual molestation cases. 
2. Right to Information and Choice (Beneficence):
What this means is that, your doctor must explain all the available treatment options to you, not just the one he/she prefer. 
You also have the right to ask questions, explore alternatives, and choose the option that you feel is best for you. 
No doctor should ever impose  any treatment option on you without your consent. 
3. Right to Safety (Non-Maleficence): 
What this one means is that, doctors are ethically bound to do no harm to their patients. So, before any treatment is given, they must weigh the risks and benefits carefully, and ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks before administering them. 
You should never be subjected to unnecessary procedures without  proper explanation given to you, and you accepting to go through it. 
4. Right to Equal Treatment (Justice): 
I know a lot of people will question this, but strangely, it is your right. 
All patients, regardless of their social or economic status, must be treated equally in the hospital. 
A governor and a security guard presenting with the same medical condition should receive the same level of care. Healthcare is a human right; it is not a privilege reserved for a few.
So guys, now that you know your rights, please ensure you ask questions, and always be involved in every decisions that concerns your health. 
You deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, whether you're in a primary healthcare center or in a teaching hospital.
Stay informed!