PATIENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS IN NEW YORK STATE
By: Margie A. Soehl, Esq.
The Patients’ Bill of Rights set forth the various rights that you have as a patient that has been hospitalized. The Patients’ Bill of Rights is comprised of 19 rights; in this article, I am going to focus on the first of those rights:
"Understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand or you need help, the hospital MUST provide assistance, including an interpreter.”
If you have been hospitalized and you do not speak or understand English, you have the right to request assistance from the hospital, including an interpreter that speaks your language.
Imagine the following scenario: you or your relative go to the hospital for an emergency or for some scheduled procedure or treatment. This is by nature a very stressful situation, and you are most likely very anxious and concerned. Now imagine that you don’t speak or understand English. The situation becomes a nightmare. It is imperative that you request an interpreter that speaks your language so you can understand your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and also so you can be informed about the risk and benefits of any procedure that your doctor recommends. Only then can you provide informed consent concerning that treatment or procedure. At the time of discharge from the hospital, the hospital must give you the opportunity to participate in the circumstances leading to your discharge. Upon discharge, you are also given written instructions; having a interpreter that speaks your language will give you the opportunity to participate in all the decisions that concern you as a patient both during your hospitalization and afterwards.
There is no doubt that each and every one of the Patients’ Bill of Rights is extremely important and as such, I invite you to visit the complete list of 19 rights on the New York State Department of Health web page. On the same web page you can search for “Derechos del Paciente”, and you will get a link to a very comprehensive publication - written in Spanish - concerning the rights of a patient that has been hospitalized.
The next time that you or someone you love is hospitalized, do not hesitate to request an interpreter that speaks your language. I can assure you that your experience will be much more positive.
The Patients’ Bill of Rights set forth the various rights that you have as a patient that has been hospitalized. The Patients’ Bill of Rights is comprised of 19 rights; in this article, I am going to focus on the first of those rights:
"Understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand or you need help, the hospital MUST provide assistance, including an interpreter.”
If you have been hospitalized and you do not speak or understand English, you have the right to request assistance from the hospital, including an interpreter that speaks your language.
Imagine the following scenario: you or your relative go to the hospital for an emergency or for some scheduled procedure or treatment. This is by nature a very stressful situation, and you are most likely very anxious and concerned. Now imagine that you don’t speak or understand English. The situation becomes a nightmare. It is imperative that you request an interpreter that speaks your language so you can understand your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and also so you can be informed about the risk and benefits of any procedure that your doctor recommends. Only then can you provide informed consent concerning that treatment or procedure. At the time of discharge from the hospital, the hospital must give you the opportunity to participate in the circumstances leading to your discharge. Upon discharge, you are also given written instructions; having a interpreter that speaks your language will give you the opportunity to participate in all the decisions that concern you as a patient both during your hospitalization and afterwards.
There is no doubt that each and every one of the Patients’ Bill of Rights is extremely important and as such, I invite you to visit the complete list of 19 rights on the New York State Department of Health web page. On the same web page you can search for “Derechos del Paciente”, and you will get a link to a very comprehensive publication - written in Spanish - concerning the rights of a patient that has been hospitalized.
The next time that you or someone you love is hospitalized, do not hesitate to request an interpreter that speaks your language. I can assure you that your experience will be much more positive.