Patient Rights & Obligations

PATIENT RIGHTS

Patients are entitled to the highest quality medical care available, in accordance with available human, financial, and material resources.

The patient has the right to be respected as a human being, without any discrimination.

I. The patient's right to medical information

• The patient has the right to be informed about available medical services and how to use them.
• The patient has the right to be informed about the identity and professional status of healthcare providers.
• Hospitalized patients have the right to be informed about the rules and customs they must follow during hospitalization.
• The patient has the right to be informed about their health status, proposed medical interventions, potential risks of each procedure, existing alternatives, including the consequences of not following treatment or recommendations, as well as information about diagnosis and prognosis.
• The patient has the right to decide whether they wish to be informed if the information provided by the doctor could cause them suffering.
• Information is provided in a respectful, clear language, minimizing specialized terminology that could limit understanding; if the patient does not know Romanian, information is provided in an international language or, if possible, in their native language through a personal translator.
• The patient has the right to expressly request not to be informed and to choose another person to be informed instead.
• Relatives and friends may be informed about the patient's investigations, diagnosis, and treatment, with the patient's consent.
• The patient has the right to request and obtain a second medical opinion.
• The patient has the right to request and receive, upon discharge, a written summary of investigations, diagnosis, treatment, and care provided during hospitalization.

II. Patient consent for medical intervention

• The patient has the right to refuse or stop a medical intervention, assuming responsibility in writing; the consequences of refusal or stopping medical acts must be explained to the patient.
• If the patient cannot express their will but an emergency intervention is necessary, medical staff may deduce consent from a previous expression of the patient's will.
• In emergencies, the legal representative's consent is not required.
• If the legal representative's consent is required, the patient must be involved in the decision-making process as much as their understanding allows.
• If healthcare providers consider the intervention in the patient's interest, but the legal representative refuses consent, the decision is referred to a specialist arbitration committee.
• The patient's consent is mandatory for the collection, storage, and use of all biological products taken from their body for diagnosis or treatment.
• The patient's consent is mandatory for participation in clinical medical education and scientific research. Persons unable to express their will may only be included with the legal representative's consent and if the research is in the patient's interest.
• The patient cannot be photographed or filmed in a medical unit without their consent, except when images are necessary for diagnosis, treatment, or to avoid suspicion of malpractice. Exceptions are common promotional events in public hospital spaces.

III. Right to confidentiality and private life

• All information regarding the patient's condition, investigation results, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and personal data is confidential, even after death.
• Confidential information may only be provided with the patient's explicit consent or if required by law.
• If information is needed by other accredited healthcare providers involved in the patient's treatment, consent is not required.
• The patient has access to their personal medical data.
• Any interference in the patient's private or family life is prohibited, except when it positively influences diagnosis, treatment, or care and only with the patient's consent. Exceptions are cases where the patient poses a danger to themselves or public health.

IV. Rights in the field of reproduction

• The woman's right to life prevails if pregnancy poses a major and immediate risk to her life.
• The patient has the right to information, education, and services necessary for a normal sexual life and reproductive health, without discrimination.
• The woman's right to decide whether to have children is guaranteed, except as provided by law.
• The patient has the right to choose the safest methods regarding reproductive health.
• Any patient has the right to effective and risk-free family planning methods.

V. Rights to treatment and medical care

• If providers must select patients for certain treatments available in limited numbers, selection is based only on medical criteria.
• Medical interventions can only be performed if the necessary equipment and accredited staff are available.
• The patient has the right to terminal care to die with dignity.
• The patient may benefit from family, friends, spiritual, psychological, material support, and advice throughout medical care. Upon request, the care environment will be made as close to the family environment as possible.
• Hospitalized patients have the right to medical services from an accredited doctor outside the hospital.
• Hospitalized patients have the right to have and involve a relative or close person in their individual care during hospitalization, subject to rules and payment of related fees.
• Hospitalized patients have the right to be visited (subject to rules and visiting hours), and to select or refuse visitors.
• The patient may offer additional payments or donations to staff or the unit where they were cared for, in compliance with the law.
• The patient has the right to continuous medical care until their health improves or until recovery.
• Continuity of care is ensured through collaboration and partnership between various public and private medical units, hospitals, and outpatient clinics, provided by doctors, nurses, or other qualified staff. After discharge, patients are entitled to available community services.
• The patient has the right to emergency medical care, emergency dental care, and pharmaceutical services, continuously.

VI. Right to information about the patient-hospital relationship

• During hospitalization, the patient may opt for a fasting menu, with the attending physician's approval.
• The patient has the right to have their beliefs, moral, cultural, and religious convictions respected.
• Medical or non-medical staff may not pressure the patient to reward them in any way other than as provided by the unit's legal payment regulations.
• The patient has the right to receive, upon request, detailed explanations regarding paid medical services received at the hospital.
• Patients have the right to have their complaints examined and resolved fairly, efficiently, promptly, and to be informed of the outcome. Suggestions or complaints may be addressed in writing to medical staff on the ward, triage staff, in the complaints register at the hospital reception, or in satisfaction questionnaires.

Note: The above provisions are supplemented by Law 46/2003 on patient rights.

PATIENT OBLIGATIONS

General obligations

• To respect the hospital's access, conduct, and discipline rules, visiting hours, meal and rest schedules.
• Not to make loud noises of any kind (including audio-video equipment or communication devices), and not to initiate actions that may cause discomfort to other patients or people nearby.
• To maintain a climate of peace and comfort in the wards.
• To maintain order and cleanliness in the wards and common areas.
• To behave ethically and civilly towards medical staff.
• Not to damage or soil hospital furniture, walls, sanitary installations, or other hospital property. Otherwise, they may bear the cost of any damage.
• To comply with the hospital's internal regulations.
• To wear the mandatory hospital attire. It is forbidden to leave the hospital in this attire or to circulate on the streets or in parks in such attire.
• Not to leave the unit during hospitalization except with the approval of the head physician.
• Not to circulate except in the ward where they are admitted or where they undergo medical investigations.
• Not to bring electronic equipment into the hospital without prior written approval from the head physician or head nurse.
• Not to smoke in the hospital, not to consume or bring alcoholic beverages or substances prohibited by law.
• To individually ensure the safety and protection of valuable personal belongings brought into the hospital, assuming full responsibility for them.
• Not to bring food into the hospital without the attending physician's approval and to store any food only in the refrigerator (not on the table or nightstand).

Medical-specific obligations

• To respect other patients and their rights.
• To strictly follow the treatment and instructions of the doctor and medical staff.
• To assume full responsibility for the consequences of refusing to follow treatment, instructions, and recommendations of medical staff.
• To inform medical staff, accurately and promptly, about any manifestation or reaction to prescribed treatment or medication.
• To cooperate continuously with the doctor regarding their health status.
• To provide medical staff with all relevant information they have about their health, as well as any other information (religious affiliation, cultural, ethnic values and customs, etc.) that may affect or influence medical care and related services.
• To provide accurate and complete information about previous hospitalizations, personal and health details, including diets and lifestyle.
• To request detailed information from medical staff about their health status, investigations and analyses performed, established diagnosis, and proposed treatment, before giving consent for any procedure or medical act. Patients have the right and freedom to ask as many questions as they wish about their medical situation.
• To inform medical staff and request support for any uncertainties or questions regarding medical documents.
• To consider that there may be an objective reason why a service is not available at a certain time or in a certain form.
• To attend consultations/interventions/admissions at the scheduled time or to notify the doctor at least 24 hours in advance if the appointment must be canceled or changed.