The purpose of the Patients' Charter is to explain both your Rights and Responsibilities when you use the services of any of Hong Kong's public hospitals. Knowing and understanding your rights and responsibilities will make your relationship with health care providers a mutually beneficial one.

The Charter sets out the ways in which the community and the hospitals work as partners in a positive and open relationship with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the health care process.

The Charter describes patients' rights, including:

1. Right to Medical Treatment
2. Right to Information
3. Right to Choices
4. Right to Privacy
5. Right to Complaint

and responsibilities.

RIGHTS

1. Right to Medical Treatment

The right to receive medical advice and treatment which fully meets the currently accepted standards of care and quality. (Sound File 345KB) The currently accepted standards are those adopted by a responsible body of the profession in the light of accepted contemporary medical practice.

2. Right to Information

The right to information about what health care services are available, and what charges are involved. (Sound File 324KB)

The right to be given a clear description of your medical condition, with diagnosis, prognosis (i.e. an opinion as to the likely future course of any illness), and of the treatment proposed including common risks and appropriate alternatives. (Sound File 716KB)

The right to know the names of any medication to be prescribed, and its normal actions and potential side-effects given your condition. (Sound File 396KB)

The right of access to medical information which relates to your condition and treatment. (Sound File 280KB)

3. Right to Choices

The right to accept or refuse any medication, investigation or treatment, and to be informed of the likely consequences of doing so. (Sound File 463KB)

The right to a second medical opinion. (Sound File 151KB)

The right to choose whether or not to take part in medical research programmes. (Sound File 259KB)

4. Right to Privacy

The right to have your privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs respected. (Sound File 313KB)

The right to have information relating to your medical condition kept confidential. (Sound File 270KB)

5. Right to Complaint

The right to make a complaint through channels provided for this purpose by the Hospital Authority, and to have any complaint dealt with promptly and fairly. (Sound File 439KB) At every hospital or clinic, there is a Patient Relations Officer to whom you can make formal complaints either verbally or in writing. The complaints will be investigated and followed up by appropriate personnel. You will receive a substantive reply to any complaint within a reasonable period of time, together with an indication of any action that has been or will be taken.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Give your health care providers as much information as you can about your present health, past illnesses, any allergies and any other relevant details. (Sound File 477KB)

Follow the prescribed and agreed treatment plan, and conscientiously comply with the instructions given. (Sound File 302KB)

Show consideration for the rights of other patients and health care providers, by following the hospital rules concerning patient conduct. (Sound File 399KB)

Keep any appointments that you make, or notify the hospital or clinic as early as possible if you are unable to do so. (Sound File 388KB)

Should not ask health care providers to provide incorrect information, receipts or certificates. (Sound File 348KB)

Should not waste medical resources unnecessarily. (Sound File 181KB)