Now, PGI patients can seek second opinion

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 19

Under the new charter of patients’ rights adopted by the PGI, a patient has the right to seek the second opinion from an appropriate clinician of his choice with all records and information being provided to him or her by the treating doctor for the purpose.

A charter of patients’ rights and responsibilities will be displayed and followed by the institute, says a communication by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

It will be the hospital’s responsibility to provide adequate relevant information about nature, cause of illness, proposed investigations, expected results of treatment, possible complications and expected costs to a patient. Besides, the hospital will also provide the patient with information on the rates charged for each type of service provided and facilities available. It is the patient’s right to choose an alternative treatment if options are available.

The establishment shall display the charter details at a conspicuous place in the local as well as in the English language. The hospital will ensure the presence of a woman during a physical examination of a female patient by a male practitioner.

There will be no discrimination in treatment based upon a patient’s illness or conditions, including his or her HIV status or other health conditions, religion ethnicity, gender (including transgender), age, sexual orientation, linguistic or geographical/social origins.

The hospital will have to take informed consent prior to specific tests/treatment (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy etc). The hospital cannot deny release of the dead body of a patient.

Some of the patient’s responsibilities mentioned in the new charter includes providing all health-related information, cooperating with doctors during examination and treatment, following all instructions, paying hospital fees on time, respecting dignity of doctors and other hospital staff and never resorting to violence.

The Deputy Director (Administration) of PGI, Gaurav Dhawan, said: “We have updated the charter as we want to provide the best possible medical care timely to the needy and also make the patients aware about their rights. At the same time, we want to inform them about their responsibilities as well, which will enable the doctors to provide their patients the right course of treatment.”

Vaibhav Gupta, a social worker who is involved in treating poor patients in government hospitals, said: “We face problems on a daily basis in the treatment of poor patients. Many a time, the patient is not satisfied with the treatment. The clause wherein a patient can seek second opinion from a clinician of his choice and choose an alternative treatment, if options are available, will help the patient to avail himself or herself of a satisfied treatment.”