Rights and Responsibilities of the Patients
In Colombia, the rights and responsibilities of patients have been established by the Statutory Law 1751 of 2015, the Health Law, which in its Article 10 states:
Patient Rights
- To receive dignified treatment without distinction of race, culture, social status, or religion.
- To freely choose their treating physician.
- To receive clear, comprehensive, timely, and respectful care.
- To have their medical history handled confidentially.
- To receive full information about the risks and costs related to the service provision.
- To receive or refuse spiritual or moral support regardless of their religious beliefs.
- To die with dignity and have their wishes respected to allow the dying process to unfold naturally in the terminal phase of their illness.
Patient Responsibilities
- To seek comprehensive care for their health and provide clear, complete, truthful, and timely information to the treating medical team.
- To provide their treating medical team and diagnostic support services with complete and detailed information about all aspects related to their health: symptoms, past illnesses, hospitalizations, surgeries; their entire medical history.
- To treat the staff providing their care with respect and courtesy. To communicate their observations, complaints, and suggestions in a respectful manner.
- To comply with the rules and policies established for entry and stay in the facilities, namely: minors, older adults, and individuals with disabilities must always be accompanied by a responsible adult; the access of weapons, dangerous items, animals, and alcoholic beverages is prohibited; circulation in restricted areas is prohibited.
- When being unable to attend an appointment, to cancel it with 24 hours’ notice.
- To promptly present the necessary documents for patient admission: identification document, ID card, user orders and/or authorizations, as well as information about a responsible person for their care.
- To fully comply with medical orders and the prescribed treatment plan.
