Engage With Your Rights
You are entitled to a minimum standard of care.
If you are under a compulsory treatment order, all of these rights still apply – except for your right to make your own decisions about your care. Even then, your preferences ought to be taken into account.
The Health and Disability Commission and The Human Rights Commission both have formal procedures for lodging misconduct and maltreatment.
You have the inalienable right
- To be treated with respect.
- To be treated fairly without pressure or discrimination.
- To dignity and independence.
- To receive quality service and to be treated with care and skill.
- To be given information that you can understand in a way that helps you communicate with the person providing the service.
- Every consumer has the right to an environment that enables both consumer and provider to communicate openly, honestly, and effectively.
- To be given the information you need to know – about your condition or diagnosis; the risks and benefits of the service being provided; the staff involved in the service; as well as information about any tests and procedures you need and any test results.
- Every client has the right to honest and accurate answers to questions relating to services, including questions about:
(a) the identity and qualifications of the provider;
(b) the recommendation of the provider;
(c) how to obtain an opinion from another provider;
(d) the results of research.
- Every client has the right to honest and accurate answers to questions relating to services, including questions about:
- To make your own decision about care, and to change your mind.
- Every consumer must be presumed competent to make an informed choice and give informed consent, unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer is not competent. This means you must be given full information.
- Even when informed consent is not possible, the service provider must always make every effort to ascertain and incorporate the clients’ own views and preferences and/or the views of their whanau/carers.
- To complain and to have your complaint taken seriously.
- To have a support person with you at most times.
- To have all these rights apply if you are asked to take part in a research study or teaching session for training staff.
