Patient Rights and Responsibilities

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Children’s Health℠ affirms each patient’s right to receive care delivered in a considerate, respectful, dignified and comforting manner. As a parent, guardian or authorized representative of a patient at Children’s Health, you have the right to receive information about your rights and the hospital’s policies related to those rights.

• As parents, you have the right to:

  • Participate actively in decisions about your child’s medical care.
  • Expect a reasonable response to any reasonable request for service within the capacity of Children’s Health, its stated mission and the law.
  • Know the names of the physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers who care for your child.
  • Retain privacy and confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to your child’s care, within the limits of the law.
  • Be told by a physician, in words or a language you understand, about the illness, treatment and prospects for recovery.
  • Receive as much information as you may need in order to give or refuse consent for any proposed treatment.
  • Make decisions, in consultation with our child’s doctor, about your child’s healthcare. This includes the right to accept or refuse medical care for your child as allowed by law and to be told of the medical consequences of such refusal.
  • Complete an advance directive (for example, a “living will”) for your child as allowed by law and to expect your child’s healthcare providers to comply with any such directive.
  • Expect proper management of your child’s pain.
  • Participate in ethical issues about your child’s care.
  • Use the telephone to make and receive calls and to know that any restrictions for medical reasons will be discussed with you.
  • Access your child’s medical records within a reasonable time frame.
  • Have a family member or representative of your choice and your child’s physician informed of your child’s admission.
  • Have your child treated with comfort and dignity if your child is dying. This includes managing your child’s pain, treating symptoms that respond to treatment and recognizing the cultural, spiritual and grief needs of you, your child and your family.
  • Receive care that is free from harassment or abuse from anyone.
  • Have your child be free from physical or medical restraints that are not medically necessary.
  • Have your child be free from restraints or seclusion for behavior management unless it is an emergency situation.
  • Receive care in a safe setting.
  • Be treated considerately and respectfully without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or cultural, economic or educational background.
  • Refuse to participate in any research project affecting your child’s care and treatment.
  • Be free to lodge a complaint and receive feedback.
  • Have help in contacting protective services when needed

• As patients, you have the right to:

  • Be told whatever is needed to understand why you are here.
  • Be told exactly what will be done and exactly what it will feel like.
  • Be given understandable answers to any questions or worries you have about treatment.
  • Tell everyone what you think and feel about your treatment and what is planned for you.
  • Know that when you are in pain people taking care of you will listen to you and help you feel better.
  • Have times and places to play and learn.
  • Be told by people who need to touch your body exactly what they will do and that they will do it in a gentle and private way.
  • Have your family with you as much as you want, whenever possible.
  • Have help to know how to take care of yourself when you go home.
  • Get angry, cry or say what you don’t like about what is happening to you.
  • Receive visitors whom the parent designates. The parent can withdraw or deny this designation at any time.

• As patients and parents, you have the responsibility to:

  • Ask questions when you do not understand what you have been told about care.
  • Provide accurate and complete information about matters relating to the patient’s health.
  • Follow the treatment plan mutually agreed upon by you and your healthcare team.
  • Talk to your doctor about what you expect in regard to pain and pain management.
  • Be considerate of other patients.
  • Follow the hospital’s rules and regulations.
  • Report perceived risks with care and unexpected changes in the patient’s condition.

• We encourage you to talk with:

  • Your child’s nurse or physician.
  • The nursing manager or director.
  • The guest relations representative at the Care Line 214-456-2273.
  • The nursing supervisor (during evening or weekend hours,
    call 214-456-7000).

Download the patient rights and responsibilities in English

Descargar los responsabilidades y derechos del paciente

If you or your family feel your rights as a patient were not upheld, you have the right to file a grievance and receive a written response from the Grievance Resolutions Committee of Children’s Health or file a grievance with one of the agencies below.

If you feel your issues are not being resolved or addressed by Children’s Health, you may contact:

The Joint Commission Office of Quality and Patient Safety
Patient safety concerns can be reported to The Joint Commission:

• By calling 800-994-6610 to receive an automated message providing instructions on how to file a written patient safety report or concern.

• At www.jointcommission.org, using the “Report a Patient Safety Event” link in the “Action Center” on the home page of the website.

• By fax to 630-792-5636

• By mail to Office of Quality and Patient Safety, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Health Facility Compliance Group
(MC 1979)
Texas Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714
hfc.complaints@dshs.state.tx.us
1-888-973-0022 Complaint Hotline
1-512-834-6653 Fax