South African National Patients Rights Charter
The National Patients’ Rights Charter of South Africa, creates a framework for promoting and defending patients’ rights.
Every patient has the right to:
* A healthy and safe environment
* Access to safe healthcare
* Emergency care in life-threatening situations
* Confidentiality and privacy
* Be treated with courtesy and consideration by all staff
* Be informed about his/her illness/condition and treatment, so as to be in a position to give informed consent
* Exercise choice in healthcare services
* Participate in decision-making that affects his/her health
* Be referred for a second opinion
* Continuity of care
* Complain about health services
* Be treated by a named healthcare provider
* Refuse treatment or information about his/her illness
Editor's note: Health care is a joint responsibility between the patient and their medical team. To achieve better health results, patients must be involved in understanding their disease, follow their treatment and discuss any concerns/disagreements they might have with their doctors.
Every patient or client has the responsibility to:
* Take care of his/her health by adopting a healthy lifestyle
* Care for and protect the environment
* Respect the rights of other patients and health providers
* Provide healthcare providers with relevant and accurate information for diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation or counselling purposes
* Advise the healthcare providers on his/her wishes with regard to his/her death
* Comply with the prescribed treatment or rehabilitation procedures
* Enquire about the related costs of the treatment and/or rehabilitation and arrange for payment
