In the United States, “the Patient’s Bill of Rights” does not refer to one universal document that gives every patient identical protections in every setting. Federal laws, state rules, insurance requirements, and health care organizations’ policies all contribute. Still, eight core rights appear across many patient-rights frameworks: respectful care, clear information, informed decisions, participation in treatment, privacy, access to records, continuity and choice of care, and the ability to raise concerns. Knowing these protections can help patients communicate with their care team and take action when something goes wrong.
What the Patient’s Bill of Rights Means
The phrase “Patient’s Bill of Rights” is commonly used for a set of principles explaining how patients should be treated and what they can expect from health care providers. The American Hospital Association adopted a widely recognized Patient’s Bill of Rights in 1973 and later replaced it with the Patient Care Partnership. Federal hospital regulations also require participating hospitals to inform patients of their rights and protect key interests, including participation in care decisions, privacy, and the ability to make complaints.
These protections are not all created by the same law. For example, the HIPAA Privacy Rule governs certain uses and disclosures of protected health information, while the Patient Self-Determination Act addresses advance directives for people in facilities covered by the law. State law and facility policies may add further protections. The precise rights and complaint process depend on the type of care, the patient’s location, and the applicable laws.
The 8 Key Rights in a Patient’s Bill of Rights
1. The Right to Respectful, Safe, and Nondiscriminatory Care
Patients should be treated with dignity, courtesy, and respect for their personal values. Federal rules require many health care providers and programs to follow civil-rights protections. Depending on the setting and applicable law, patients may have protections against discrimination based on characteristics such as race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex. State and local laws may provide additional protections.
Respectful care also means that staff should communicate in a way the patient can understand and take reasonable steps to address communication barriers. For example, a patient with limited English proficiency may be entitled to language assistance in a covered setting. A patient with a disability may need an effective communication aid or a reasonable accommodation. Patients can ask how to obtain an interpreter, accessible materials, or other assistance rather than relying on a family member to translate sensitive medical information.
Safety is part of quality care, but no provider can promise a particular outcome. Patients can help support safe care by sharing accurate medication and allergy information, confirming their identity before procedures, and asking staff to explain unfamiliar instructions. They can also report concerns about unsafe conditions to a nurse, patient advocate, or facility representative.
2. The Right to Clear Information About Health and Treatment
Patients have a strong interest in receiving understandable information about their diagnosis, health status, treatment options, and likely outcomes. Hospital regulations require covered facilities to provide information about a patient’s health status and participate in care planning, subject to applicable rules. Before agreeing to many procedures, patients should receive an explanation of the proposed intervention, its expected benefits and risks, and reasonable alternatives, including the option of declining it.
Medical information can be technical, so patients can ask clinicians to explain unfamiliar terms, use plain language, or provide written instructions. Questions such as “What is the purpose of this test?” and “What could happen if treatment is delayed?” can clarify the decision. A patient may also ask for an interpreter, a support person, or time to review information when circumstances allow.
In an emergency, clinicians may need to act quickly, and the usual process for discussion may be limited by the patient’s condition or the urgency of care. When a patient cannot make decisions and no authorized representative is available, state law and emergency-care rules may guide treatment.
3. The Right to Informed Consent and to Refuse Treatment
Informed consent is an ongoing conversation, not just a signature on a form. In general, patients who have decision-making capacity can accept or refuse medical treatment after receiving relevant information. They can ask about the purpose of a treatment, its risks and benefits, alternatives, and what may happen without it. The details of consent requirements vary by state, procedure, and clinical circumstances.
A patient may change their mind, including after initially agreeing to a treatment, as long as the treatment has not already been carried out and no legal or emergency exception applies. Refusing care does not automatically mean the patient will be abandoned. The provider should explain likely consequences and discuss other options, if available.
Decision-making capacity is specific to the decision and circumstances; a diagnosis alone does not necessarily mean someone cannot make choices. If a patient cannot make a particular decision, an authorized health care agent, guardian, or other legally recognized representative may act under state law and any applicable advance directive. Emergency treatment may proceed under legal exceptions when a patient cannot consent and delay would pose a serious risk.
4. The Right to Participate in Care and Make Decisions
Patients should have an opportunity to take part in planning and decisions about their care. That may include discussing treatment goals, reviewing options, asking for a second opinion, and identifying a representative to participate in conversations. A patient can tell the care team about personal priorities—for example, concerns about pain, mobility, religious practices, or how a treatment may affect daily life.
Participation is especially important during transitions, such as moving from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility or returning home. Patients can ask what follow-up care is needed, which symptoms require urgent attention, and whom to contact with questions. They can also request a medication list and clear discharge instructions. The care team should explain the plan, but patients and caregivers can help by confirming that the instructions are understood and feasible.
For major decisions, patients may want to include a trusted support person. If the patient has an advance directive or has named a health care agent, sharing that information with the facility can help the team understand who may speak for the patient if the patient later cannot communicate.
5. The Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
Patients have privacy interests in their bodies, conversations, and medical information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to covered health plans, health care clearinghouses, and many health care providers. It generally limits how covered entities may use or disclose protected health information and gives individuals certain rights over that information. HIPAA does not cover every organization that handles health-related data, and it allows some disclosures without authorization, such as certain disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations.
Patients can ask a provider how their information is used, request restrictions on certain disclosures, and ask for confidential communications in some circumstances. A covered entity is not always required to agree to a requested restriction, but it must follow specific rules in situations where an individual pays out of pocket in full for a service and requests that the information not be shared with a health plan for payment or operations, subject to exceptions.
Privacy in a care setting may also involve who is present during an examination or discussion. Patients can ask to speak with a clinician privately or ask who will have access to their information. Because privacy rights have limits, patients should ask the provider’s privacy office for an explanation of the rules that apply to a particular situation.
6. The Right to Access Health Records and Correct Errors
Under HIPAA, individuals generally have the right to inspect and obtain copies of protected health information in a designated record set maintained by a covered entity or its business associate. This may include medical and billing records used to make decisions about the patient. The right is subject to limited exceptions, and fees for copies must follow applicable rules. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains these rights in its guidance on accessing medical records.
Patients can submit an access request to the provider or health plan, often through a medical records department or patient portal. If information is inaccurate or incomplete, a patient may request an amendment. A covered entity may deny an amendment request in certain cases, but it must follow HIPAA procedures and provide an explanation. Patients may be able to submit a statement of disagreement if they disagree with the decision.
Access to records can help patients prepare for appointments, coordinate care among specialists, and check medication or allergy details. It does not necessarily mean a patient can edit a clinician’s original notes or remove a record they dislike; the amendment process addresses qualifying errors or omissions under the applicable rules.
7. The Right to Choose Providers and Receive Appropriate Continuity of Care
Patients often have choices about clinicians and facilities, but those choices can be limited by insurance networks, availability, medical urgency, and the type of service needed. Health plans generally provide information about network providers and coverage rules. Patients can ask whether a clinician is in network, whether a referral or prior authorization is required, and what costs may apply before receiving nonemergency care.
Hospital patients also have rights related to discharge planning and information about follow-up care. A patient can ask what services are recommended after discharge and whether a proposed plan is safe and practical. If a patient believes discharge is premature or does not understand the plan, they can promptly raise the concern with the care team or case manager. Medicare beneficiaries may have specific appeal rights for certain coverage or discharge decisions; the deadlines and process depend on the notice and type of service.
Choice does not guarantee access to any particular specialist, treatment, or facility. Providers may also have legal and clinical limits on the services they offer. Asking early about alternatives, referrals, records transfers, and insurance coverage can make a change in provider or care setting easier to manage.
8. The Right to Raise Concerns and File a Complaint
Patients may speak up about care, billing, communication, privacy, or safety without being dismissed for raising a concern. The first step is often to contact the clinician, charge nurse, patient relations department, or facility administrator. A written complaint that includes dates, names, the issue, and the requested response can make the concern easier to review. Patients should keep copies of relevant documents and notes.
External complaint options depend on the issue. A hospital patient may contact the state agency responsible for licensing or hospital complaints, or the state’s Medicare Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization for certain Medicare quality-of-care concerns. A suspected HIPAA violation can be reported to the HHS Office for Civil Rights. Insurance coverage or claim disputes may be directed to the health plan and, when appropriate, the state insurance department or a government program.
Different agencies handle different problems, and filing a complaint does not necessarily pause an appeal deadline. Patients should check the instructions and time limits on any denial, discharge notice, or billing document. For an immediate threat to safety, the patient should alert facility staff or emergency services rather than waiting for a formal complaint process.
How to Put Patient Rights Into Practice
Patients can protect their interests by preparing for appointments, keeping a current medication and allergy list, and bringing relevant medical history. Before a procedure, they can ask what it involves, what alternatives exist, and who to contact afterward. During a hospital stay, they can ask for the patient-rights notice, interpreter services, or a patient advocate.
When a concern arises, a practical sequence is to clarify the issue with the care team, request help from patient relations, and then contact the appropriate regulator, insurer, or government office if needed. Patients should save messages, notices, bills, and records of phone calls. For legal questions or complex disputes, a qualified attorney or patient advocacy organization may help explain options.
Quick Reference: Patient Rights and Where to Start
| Right | Practical action | Possible starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Respectful, nondiscriminatory care | Request an accommodation or report unfair treatment | Care team, patient relations, or civil-rights office |
| Clear health information | Ask for plain-language explanations and an interpreter | Clinician or hospital staff |
| Informed consent and refusal | Discuss risks, benefits, alternatives, and the option to decline | Treating clinician |
| Participation in decisions | Share goals, name a support person, and provide advance directives | Care team or facility records staff |
| Privacy and confidentiality | Ask how information is used or request a confidential communication | Provider’s privacy officer |
| Access to records | Submit a records request or amendment request | Medical records department or patient portal |
| Choice and continuity of care | Check network rules, referrals, discharge plans, and appeal notices | Health plan, case manager, or Medicare program |
| Complaints and appeals | Document the concern and check deadlines | Patient relations, regulator, insurer, or HHS |
Because patient rights vary across settings and states, the facility’s written notice and the relevant agency’s current instructions are important sources for a specific case. For general federal information, patients can consult the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services patient-rights information and the HHS guidance on privacy and medical-record access.