A Guide to Knowing Your Rights When Undergoing a Medical Procedure

Undergoing a medical procedure is often a terrifying experience for someone. Even if it’s a small procedure, it can cause a lot of anxiety. This is often due to the fact that many patients don’t know what their rights are when undergoing a medical procedure, which could lead to them having a negative experience.

Knowing what your medical rights are can help you feel safer during the procedure, and also help you to stand up for yourself if something is wrong. Keep reading to learn more.

You have the right to file a lawsuit

If you think that you were treated unfairly or that a medical professional’s neglect meant that something went wrong with your procedure, you have the right to sue that person or company. 

That being said, just because you have the right to sue doesn’t necessarily mean you will win the lawsuit. You, therefore, need to be sure that you are doing things correctly.

You’ll probably have many questions such as, “Does signing a consent form mean that you have waived your rights to sue?”, so it’s best to visit a malpractice lawyer who can answer these questions and guide you through the next steps.

You have the right to confidentiality 

You’ve probably heard of doctor-patient confidentiality. Simply put, it means that your doctor cannot disclose any private or medical information of yours to anyone without your consent. 

That being said, you have the right to access your medical records at any time, even if other people can’t. Legally, your doctors and other healthcare providers can’t keep your own medical records from you. Medical records have a lot of valuable and private information about you and your health, so it’s equally important that you have access to it and that other people don’t. You can learn more about the components of medical records here. 

You have the right to refuse treatment

Of course, doctors and other healthcare providers likely know more about health, treatments, and procedures than you do, which is why it’s always recommended that you follow their advice.

But if you don’t want to undergo a specific treatment or procedure, you have the right to refuse it. That being said, it’s always a good idea to at least get a second opinion. Your doctor may also recommend a certain medication like over-the-counter medicine to help you focus, but you can once again refuse to take this medication. 

You have the right to be treated with respect

This is a bit of a tricky one because people have varying opinions on what respect entails. However, if someone is doing things to you without your consent or making you feel uncomfortable, that is not respectful.

If you feel that a nurse isn’t treating you with respect, you have the right to ask for a different nurse – although there’s no guarantee you will get one. Generally, a good nurse has these qualities, so be sure to be on the lookout for that. Your doctor should also always be respectful when engaging with you.