Policies & Patient Rights | Tufts Medicine

Nurse Tiano Rao comforting patient during an OBGYN Oncology appointment.

You are the primary member of your healthcare team and have the right and responsibility to participate to ensure the safe delivery of care. You may request copies of hospital policies and procedures or practices related to care, treatment and responsibility.

HIPAA + Notice of Privacy Practices : A notice of privacy practices that describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information.
Notice of Nondiscrimination: Tufts Medicine complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.
Financial assistance: Tufts Medicine provides financial counseling and assistance to those in need.
Health Care Proxy + Medical Decision Making : Hospitals are required, by federal law, to provide all adult patients with information on their rights under state law to make decisions regarding their medical care, their right to make an “advance directive” and the hospital’s policies regarding such rights.
Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST): This is a decision-making process used by physicians for seriously ill patients. It involves specifying the patient's preferences for life-sustaining treatments based on their current condition. MOLST ensures that the wishes of persons with advanced illness regarding life-sustaining treatments are communicated and respected across all healthcare settings.
Massachusetts Patients Bill of Rights: Rights guaranteed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and information on how to file a grievance.
Your responsibilities + Code of Conduct: We ask patients to take ownership of these responsibilities while they are at Tufts Medicine.
Medical record s: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guarantees that all medical records are confidential. Patients may request their medical records at any time.
Speak up: We ask our patients to speak up if they have concerns.
Surprise Billing Protection Notice: Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills.

Patient rights

You have, among other rights, the right to:

Respect + participation

To have reasonable requests responded to promptly and adequately within the hospital’s capacity.
To care that is considerate and respectful of your cultural and personal values, beliefs and preferences.
To be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
To be informed about and participate in medical or ethical decisions regarding your care.
To voice complaints about your care and to have those complaints reviewed.
To designate a decision-maker in the event you are unable to communicate your healthcare wishes.
To request a copy of any hospital rules and regulations that apply to your conduct as a patient.
To receive effective management of your pain symptoms.
To receive or refuse to receive visitors without restriction based upon race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability, subject to any clinically necessary or reasonable restriction or safety concerns.
To prompt and safe transfer to a facility that agrees to provide treatment if you are refused treatment for economic status or lack of a source of payment.

Privacy + confidentiality

To security and personal privacy while receiving care within the hospital’s capacity.
To confidentiality of your records and communications to the extent provided by law.

Information + treatment

To receive an estimate for services to be provided, including the amount for any associated facility fees within 2 working days of a patient’s request.
To obtain the name and specialty of those providing care to you.
To request and receive an explanation as to the relationship of the hospital and your physician to any other healthcare facility or educational institution as it relates to your care.
To request and receive information about financial assistance and free healthcare.
To refuse to be examined, observed or treated by students or any staff without jeopardizing your access to care.
To obtain complete and current information about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in understandable terms.
To receive emergency care treatment without discrimination due to your economic status or source of payment.
To access protective services and advocacy services.
To have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
To refuse to participate as a research subject and refuse any care or exam if the primary purpose is educational or informational rather than therapeutic.
To request and inspect your medical record, request an amendment or receive an accounting of disclosures regarding your personal health information, and for a reasonable fee, receive a copy of your record.
To receive a copy of your medical record free if you show that your request is to support a claim or appeal under any provisions of the Social Security Act in any federal or state financial needs-based benefit program.
To request and receive an itemized hospital bill and have a copy sent to your physician.
To receive information about and promptly offered emergency contraception upon request if you are a female rape victim or victim of sexual assault.
To complete information on all alternative treatments that are medically viable if suffering from any form of breast cancer.
To receive information about the hospital’s rate of cesarean sections and related statistics if you are a maternity patient.

As a patient, you have the responsibility to be a respectful member of our healthcare community.

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Policies + Patient Rights

Patient rights

Respect + participation

Privacy + confidentiality

Information + treatment