{"id":291,"date":"2024-12-05T11:43:46","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T16:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/?page_id=291"},"modified":"2025-06-23T12:02:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T16:02:41","slug":"patients-rights-responsibilities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/about-us\/how-care-works\/patients-rights-responsibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Patient Rights & Responsibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

At SHS, we are committed to upholding the rights, autonomy, and well-being of all students.<\/h4>\n

We support your role as an active participant in your own health and wellness. All students should be aware of the rights they are entitled to and the responsibilities they hold as patients at SHS.<\/p>\n

Your Rights as a Patient at SHS<\/h3>\n

You have the right to:<\/h4>\n

Care & Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>
\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  • Receive considerate and respectful care, free from discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or any other unlawful basis.<\/li>\n
  • Receive appropriate assessment and management of pain.<\/li>\n
  • Prompt, life-saving treatment in the event of an emergency, without discrimination or delay based on your economic status or ability to pay.<\/li>\n
  • Receive assistance transferring your care to a facility that agrees to treat you if SHS cannot due to economic reasons.<\/li>\n
  • Refuse to participate as a research subject.<\/li>\n
  • Refuse any care or examination conducted for educational or informational purposes rather than therapeutic treatment.<\/li>\n
  • Refuse to be examined, observed, or treated by students or other staff members.<\/li>\n
  • Choose, when not in an emergency, from available facilities and providers, and the type of health service, provided the facility and provider can accommodate you.<\/li>\n
  • Be promptly offered emergency contraception and receive it upon request if you are a female rape victim.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n

    Communication<\/strong><\/h3>
    <\/p>\n
      \n
    • Obtain a copy of SHS rules and regulations regarding patient conduct.<\/li>\n
    • Know the names and specialties of the individuals providing your care.<\/li>\n
    • Request information about SHS\u2019s relationship with other healthcare or educational institutions as it pertains to your care.<\/li>\n
    • Receive information necessary to make an informed decision about a recommended procedure or treatment, including benefits, risks, and alternatives, to the extent allowed by law.<\/li>\n
    • Have reasonable requests addressed promptly and adequately, within SHS\u2019s capacity.<\/li>\n
    • Receive accurate written information about emergency contraception if you are a victim of sexual assault or rape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      \n

      Privacy & Confidentiality<\/strong><\/h3>
      <\/p>\n
        \n
      • Privacy during treatment and the rendering of care.<\/li>\n
      • Confidentiality of your medical records and communications, in accordance with the law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
        \n

        Medical Records & Financial Information<\/strong><\/h3>
        <\/p>\n
          \n
        • Inspect and obtain a copy of your medical records upon request.<\/li>\n
        • Receive an itemized bill upon request, regardless of payment source, and have a copy sent to the responsible provider.<\/li>\n
        • Request information regarding financial assistance or available free health care options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

          Your Responsibilities as a Patient at SHS<\/h3>\n

          As a patient, you are expected to:<\/h4>\n

          Be respectful<\/strong><\/h3>
          \n
            \n
          • Treat all patients, staff, faculty, and students with respect and courtesy.<\/li>\n
          • Avoid disruptive or threatening behavior.<\/li>\n
          • Respect SHS property.<\/li>\n
          • Observe the smoke-free policy; smoking is not permitted on SHS grounds.<\/li>\n
          • Refrain from bringing weapons into SHS.<\/li>\n
          • Silence personal electronic devices during appointments and use them courteously in waiting areas. Do not take photos, videos, or audio recordings.<\/li>\n
          • Keep scheduled appointments or notify SHS with reasonable notice (more than 24 hours, except in urgent situations) if you need to cancel. Repeated missed or late appointments may result in limited access to non-emergent care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n

            Be your best medical advocate<\/strong><\/h3>
            <\/p>\n
              \n
            • Provide accurate and complete information regarding your health, including current complaints, past illnesses, medications, supplements, allergies, hospitalizations, and any relevant medical history.<\/li>\n
            • Ask questions if you do not understand your care or treatment plan, and inform your provider if you are unable to follow prescribed instructions.<\/li>\n
            • Help prevent the spread of illness by following SHS guidance if you are contagious and comply with immunization requirements unless doing so endangers your health or violates your religious beliefs.<\/li>\n
            • Follow the treatment plan prescribed by your provider and actively participate in your care.<\/li>\n
            • Accept financial responsibility for any services not covered by your insurance.<\/li>\n
            • Acknowledge the consequences of refusing treatment or not following your provider\u2019s instructions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              At SHS, we are committed to upholding the rights, autonomy, and well-being of all students. We support your role as an active participant in your own health and wellness. All students should be aware of the rights they are entitled to and the responsibilities they hold as patients at SHS. Your Rights as a Patient […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1301,"featured_media":0,"parent":281,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=291"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2133,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291\/revisions\/2133"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}