Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer's Rights

Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer’s Rights

·        Right 1: Right to be treated with respect (incl. privacy respected and right to services that respect their needs/culture/religion)

·        Right 2: Right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment and exploitation

·        Right 3: Right to dignity and independence

·        Right 4: Right to services of an appropriate standard (incl. co-operation among providers)

·        Right 5: Right to effective communication (incl. right environment and interpreter if necessary)

·        Right 6: Right to be fully informed

·        Right 7: Right to make an informed choice and give informed consent

·        Right 8: Right to support (ie to have support people present if at all possible) 

·        Right 9: Rights in respect of teaching or research – all other rights extend to when patient is participating in research or teaching 

·        Right 10: Right to complain

·        Provider compliance: 

o   A provider is not in breach of this code if they have taken reasonable actions in the circumstances to comply with duties in the code

o   The onus is on the provider to prove that it took reasonable actions 

o   Relevant circumstances includes consumer‟s clinical situation and the provider‟s resource constraints