Vol. 2, Issue 5, Part B (2016)

Abstract
Observance of basic patient rights to accessible healthcare, physician of choice, complete information, treatment-refusal, filing complaint and confidentiality of personal and medical privacy motivates active participation of patients in healthcare treatment decision-making. Implementation of patient’s rights by healthcare-workers especially in public hospitals is utmost necessary to secure good medical practice and build & strengthen doctor-patient relationship and rapport, avoiding legal complications which are a big issue these days especially after coming under the ambit of Consumer Protection Act. Lack of practice of patients’ rights may lead to hazards in health outcomes and ruined doctor-patient relationship thereby compromising optimal care of patients, decreased efficiency, effectiveness, trust and loss of clinical work hours due to litigations. Present survey study on randomly-selected 282 patients of a public medical education institute and hospital (1128 bed capacity in all attached hospitals) revealed a mediocre level observance of patients’ rights and an above average sense-of-responsibility among patients in healthcare decision making. Significantly high level of ignorance for laws safeguarding rights was deduced. Media remains major sources of awareness about rights and duties in such patients.