I. Declaration of Patient Rights
The Turkish Medical Association Declaration of Patient Rights has been prepared based on the Lisbon Declaration adopted by the World Medical Association, the Santiago version (2005), and the WHO Regional Office for Europe Declaration on the Promotion of Patients' Rights (Amsterdam 1994), taking into account relevant domestic legal regulations.
Patient rights are human rights and an indispensable element of healthcare services. The importance of patient rights must be kept in mind in carrying out the medical profession in conditions that respect human dignity and prioritize the principles of medical ethics in the physician-patient relationship.
- Access to Healthcare: Includes the right not to be discriminated against, to be cared for by a physician who makes clinical and ethical decisions freely, to receive medically appropriate treatment, and to have fair access to resources.
- Information: Includes the right of the patient to receive information about their condition and access medical records, for information to be communicated in a comprehensible manner, the right not to be informed, and to designate a person to be informed on their behalf.
- Making Choices: Includes the right to choose the healthcare institution, physician, medical procedure, and to seek a second opinion (consultation) from other physicians.
- Maintenance of Health: It is essential that preventive measures are taken against all factors that may impair the individual's health and that they receive adequate, qualified healthcare unconditionally in case of illness.
- Informed Consent or Right of Refusal: The right to informed consent or to refuse treatment, which is an expression of respect for human dignity and integrity, must be recognized for all patients as the basis of any medical procedure.
- Confidentiality and Privacy: The confidentiality of the patient's personal information, diagnosis and treatment, health status, and all private information must be ensured.
- Safe Healthcare: The patient has the right to receive safe healthcare. Ensuring the quality of service is a crucial dimension of healthcare provision.
- Continuity: The patient has the right to continuity of healthcare services. A patient whose medically necessary treatment is ongoing cannot be abandoned without reasonable support and new arrangements.
- Refusing Participation in Medical Education: The patient has the right to refuse to participate in medical education (e.g., observation by interns/resident physicians).
II. Patient Responsibilities
Just as our patients have rights, they also have responsibilities determined by the regulations of the Ministry of Health to receive healthy and orderly service:
- Providing Information: The patient must fully and accurately report their current complaints, past illnesses, whether they have been hospitalized, medications they use, and information related to their health.
- Complying with Recommendations: Our patients are obliged to comply with the treatment plan of the authorized physicians and nurses involved in their treatment.
- Refusing Planned Treatment: The patient is personally responsible for any negative consequences that may arise if they refuse the planned treatment or fail to follow the physician's instructions.
- Complying with Institutional Rules: The patient must comply with our hospital's rules and practices (appointment times, visitor rules, companion policies, etc.).
- Showing Respect: The patient must respect the rights of other patients, patient relatives, and all healthcare professionals. They must not make noise in the hospital and must avoid behaviors that disturb the environment.
