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patient rights

Our programs and services include:

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Morton Hospital, its doctors, nurses and entire staff are dedicated to ensuring that you receive excellent patient care.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopted legislation (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 111, Section 70E) regarding patient rights.  Morton Hospital strongly endorses these patient rights, which are outlined as follows:

  1. To know the name and professional specialty of any doctor or other person responsible for your care or the coordination of your care.
  2. To confidentiality with regard to all your records and communications to the extent provided by law.
  3. To have all reasonable requests responded to promptly and adequately within the capacity of the hospital.
  4. To be made aware of any relationship between the hospital or your doctor and any other health care or educational institution, relative to your health care or treatment.
  5. To obtain from a person designated by the facility a copy of any rules or regulations of the facility which apply to his/her conduct as a patient or resident.
  6. To receive available information concerning financial assistance and free health care.
  7. To inspect your medical records in the presence of your doctor or nurse.  A copy may be provided at minimum cost.
  8. To refuse to be examined, observed, or treated by students or any other hospital staff without compromising your access to other psychiatric, psychological, or other medical care or attention.
  9. To refuse to serve as a research subject or refuse any care or examination if the primary purpose is educational or informational rather than therapeutic.
  10. To privacy during medical treatment or any other care.
  11. To prompt life-saving treatment in an emergency without discrimination on the basis of economic status or source of payment.
  12. To informed consent provided by law.
  13. To receive a copy of an itemized bill or other statement of charges submitted to any third party by the hospital for your care and to have a copy of the itemized bill or statement sent to your attending physician.
  14. To a prompt and safe transfer to a facility which agrees to accept the transfer in the event the Hospital refused treatment because of economic state or ability to pay.
  15. To obtain an explanation as to the relationship, if any, of the physician to any other health care facility or educational institutions insofar as the said relationship relates to his/her care or treatment, and such explanation shall include the said physician’s ownership or financial interest, if any, in the facility or other health care facilities insofar as the said ownership relates to the care and treatment of the said patient or resident.
  16. To receive an itemized bill including third party reimbursements paid toward said bill, regardless of the sources of payment.
  17. In the case of a patient suffering from any form of breast cancer, to have complete information on all alternative treatments which are medically viable.
  18. In the case of a maternity patient, at the time of pre-admission, to have a list of mandated statistics related to the Hospital’s maternity practices.
  19. To expect that a family member/representative and physician be notified promptly of your admission, unless you request not to.
  20. To receive care in a safe setting, free from abuse or harassment; to participate in planning of your health care.
  21. To access the internal grievance process and also to appeal to an external agency.
  22. To unrestricted access to communication, visitors, mail and telephone calls, unless clinically contraindicated.
  23. To appropriate assessment and management of pain.
  24. To be free from restraints/ seclusion imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
  25. To have issues related to care at the end of life addressed with sensitivity.
  26. To recognition of psychological, spiritual and cultural values, including access to pastoral care and spiritual services.