Patient Rights & Responsibilities

At Blank Children's Hospital, you and your family have the right to:

Respect and Personal Dignity

• You are important.
• We want to get to know you.
• We will tell you who we are, and we will call you by your name. We will take time to listen to you.
• We will not talk about you in your room or outside your door unless you know what is happening.
• We will honor your privacy.

Care that Supports You and Your Family

• You and your family are important. We will work together to make you as safe and comfortable as possible.
• All families are different. We want to learn what is important to you and your family.
• There will be a place for a member of your family to spend the night in the hospital with you or near you.

Information You Can Understand

• We will explain things to you. We will speak in ways you can understand. You can ask about what is happening to you and why.
• Someone who speaks your language will help explain things to you.
• Someone from your family can be with you when people in the hospital are explaining things to you.

Emotional Support

• When you are at Blank Children's, you might feel scared, mad, lonely, or sad. You can let people know how you feel. It is okay to cry or complain.
• You can have your family with you as much as possible. When this is not possible, the other people caring for you will explain why.
• We can help you meet children and families who have had experiences like yours.
• You can wear your own clothing most of the time and keep your special things with you.
• You can talk or play with people who know how to help when you have questions or problems.
• You can ask to be moved to another room if you are uncomfortable or unhappy.

Care that Respects Your Need to Grow, Play and Learn

• We will consider all your interests and needs, not just those related to your illness or disability.
• You have the right to rest, play and learn. We will make sure that you have places and times for the things children your age need to grow and learn.

Quality Health Care

• There are many people who take care of your child in the hospital. You have the right to know who they are and what they do.
• You can expect to have your child cared for by doctors, nurses, and others who know how to care for children and youth.
• You are an important member of your child's health care team. You know your child best. The information you have is important. Please share this information with us so that together we can plan what is best.
• You have the right to know about treatment options for your child.
• You have the right to know if your child's treatment is experimental or educational. You can refuse this treatment and the hospital staff will still take good care of your child.

Make Decisions About Your Child's Care

• You have the right to any information you need to make decisions about your child's care.
• We will work in partnership with you to make decisions about your child's care.
• We will explain all options so you can understand the risks and know what the choices are for your child's care.
• You may refuse treatments as permitted by law.
• You can change your mind about care for your child even if you have already given permission.
• You can ask for a second opinion  from another doctor. You can ask for a specialist to see your child.
• You can ask to change hospitals. If it is necessary to transfer your child to another hospital, we will make every effort not to move your child until you have been told why.