The legislation outlines the responsibility of the patient and the provider by establishing 22 rights all patients in Maryland hospitals should have.
Frederick, Md. (DG) – The “Patients Bill of Rights” is being introduced in Annapolis by Delegate Karen Lewis Young.
Her bill outlines 22 rights she feels patients are entitled to at all Maryland hospitals.
“We believe that the recent incident in Baltimore, whereby a patient was dumped on the street, reinforces why this is so important that when a patient is admitted to a hospital that the patient should have a fundamental expectation about being involved in the decision-making process and have reasonable communications with the staff,” Lewis-Young said.
She said some of the rights included in her bill are the right to have pain managed effectively, and to have the right to refuse to take part in medical studies.
The legislation outlines the responsibility of the patient and the provider by establishing 22 rights all patients in Maryland hospitals should have.
Lewis-Young said Maryland ranks 48th out of 50 states for patient safety and consistently ranks near bottom for patient satisfaction.
Some supporters of this legislation include Marylanders for Patient Rights, American Association of University Women, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, Mental Health Association of Social Workers, Surgical Fire, and Patient Safety America.
-Dianah Gibson