Pediatric Bill of Rights 

At MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, we believe it is important for our patients and their families to know their rights. Please let us know if you have any concerns.

• Respect and personal dignity
• Care that supports you and your family
• Information you can understand
• Quality health care
• Emotional support
• Care that respects your need to grow,play and learn
• Make choices and decisions

Respect and Personal Dignity

• You are important. We want to get to know you.
• We will tell you who we are. We will take time to listen to you.
• We will not talk about you in your room or outside your door unless you know what is happening.
• We will honor your privacy.
• You can refuse to see anyone who is not part of MCGHealth or who is not helping take care of you.

Care That Supports You and Your Family

• You and your family are important. We will work together to make you as comfortable as possible.
• All families are different. We want to know what is important to you and your family.
• There will be a place for a member of your family to spend the night with you or near you.

Information You Can Understand

• We will explain things to you. We will speak in ways you can understand. You can ask what is happening to you and why.
• Someone who speaks your language will help explain things.
• Someone from your family can be with you when people are explaining things to you.
• You will be provided information about pain relief measures. You have the right to expect to receive care from a staff committed to pain prevention and management. You can expect your reports of pain will be believed, that we will respond quickly to these reports, and that pain relief specialists will be used to assist in meeting your needs using state- of-the art pain management techniques.

Quality Health Care

• You will be taken care of by doctors,nurses and other people who know about children and teenagers.
• You have the right to know all of the people who take care of you. You and your family can meet with them to plan what is best for you.
• We will work together with you and your family to make your stay as short and comfortable as possible.

Emotional Support

• When you are in our facility, you might feel scared, mad, tired, lonely or sad. You can let people know how you feel. You can cry or complain.
• You can have your family with you as much as possible. When this is not possible, the other people caring for you will explain why.
• We can help you meet children and families who have had experiences like yours.
• You can wear your own clothing most of the time and keep your special things with you
• You can talk with people who know how to help when you have questions or problems.
• You can ask to be moved to another room if you are uncomfortable or unhappy.

Care That Respects Your Need to Grow, Play and Learn

• We will consider all your interests and needs, not just those related to your illness or disability.
• You have the right to rest, play and learn. We will make sure you have places and times for the things children your age need to grow and learn.

Make Choices and Decisions

• You have the right to make choices and decisions whenever possible. Sometimes you can help decide when and where you get your treatments.

• Respect and personal dignity
• Care that supports you as a family
• Information you can understand
• Quality health care
• Emotional support
• Care that respects your child’s growth and development
• Make decisions about your child’s care

Respect and Personal Dignity

• You and your child will be treated with courtesy and respect.
• We will introduce ourselves. We will explain our role in your child’s care.
• You can help us get to know your child. We can learn from you what is best for your family. We will take the time to listen.
• The things you tell us in confidence will be kept private.
• We will speak and write respectfully about your child and family.
• We will honor your privacy.
• You and your child will be provided every consideration for your right to privacy to the extent consistent with providing adequate medical care in a teaching hospital. This includes verbal and written consultation among caregivers.
• You and your child have the freedom to see or refuse to see persons not formally affiliated with MCGHealth, or those not directly involved in your child’s care.
• Your privacy and confidentiality of all records pertaining to treatment will be maintained, except as otherwise provided by law or  third-party contract. Any interview, examination or treatment will take place in areas designed to assure reasonable privacy.
• You have the right to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practice; to request an inspection and copy of your child’s record; to amend your child’s medical record; to request a restriction on how we use and disclose your child’s medical information; to confidential communications; and to an accounting of how your child’s medical information is disclosed.

Care That Supports You as a Family

• You and other family members are welcome in the facility because you and your family are the most important people to your child. Being together is important.
• We will provide a place for at least one family member to spend the night near your child.
• If you choose, you can stay with your child during most medical treatments.

Information You Can Understand

• You have the right to complete information from people helping you care for your child.
• You can ask what is happening to your child and why. Everything will be explained to you honestly, in ways you can understand.
• Someone who speaks your language will help explain things to you.
• You have the right to ask questions about anything that is unclear to you.
• You can ask to have someone from your family — or another support person — with you when people are explaining things to you.
• You have the right to know about your child’s condition and treatment plan. You have the right to see and review your child’s medical records with the attending physician.
• You have the right to detailed information about your child’s hospital bill.
• You have the right to know the policies, procedures and routines of our facility.
• You have the right to know the process for taking care of your concerns and complaints.

Quality Health Care

• Many people may take care of your child. You have the right to know who they are and what they do.
• You can expect to have your child cared for by doctors, nurses and others who know how to care for children and youth.
• You are an important partner in your child’s health care team. You know your child best. The information you have is important. Please share this information with us so that together we can plan what is best for your child.
• You have the right to know the treatment options for your child.
• You have the right to know if your child’s treatment is experimental or educational. You can refuse this treatment, and the staff will still take good care of your child.
• Caregivers will be responsible for collaborating with your child’s health care providers about pain and pain management expectations related to acute and chronic health care issues. This collaboration will follow appropriate patient/family education and will include discussions of pain relief options, the need for timely reporting of onset of pain and of ineffective pain management interventions and concerns about treatment plans.
• Before your child leaves, we will teach you about the care your child will need. We will tell you about people and places in your community that can help you.

Emotional Support

• When your child is in our facility, you might feel afraid, angry, guilty, sad, lonely or tired. You can talk with health professionals about your feelings, questions, problems or concerns. They will listen to you and respect your feelings.
• If you want help, you can decide whom you want to help you.
• We can help you meet other families who have had experiences like yours.

Care That Respects Your Child’s Growth and Development

• We will consider all of your child’s interests and needs, not just those related to the illness or disability.
• Your child will be cared for by people who understand the needs and concerns of children and teenagers.
• We will try to keep your child’s schedule and activities as normal as possible. This includes uninterrupted sleep, quiet times, play times, school and the comfort of family and friends.

Pediatric Bill of Rights
Make Decisions About Your Child’s Care

• You have the right to any information you need to make decisions about your child’s care.
• We will work in partnership with you to make decisions about your child’s care.
• We will explain all options so you can understand the risks and choices regarding your child’s care.
• You may refuse treatment as permitted by law.
• You can change your mind about care for your child, even if you have already given permission.
• You can ask for a second opinion from another doctor. You can ask for a specialist to see your child.
• You can ask to change facilities.
• If it is necessary to transfer your child to another facility, we will make every effort not to move your child until you have been told why.

Family Responsibilities
In This Facility, You Have the Responsibility to:

• Provide information
• Provide appropriate care
• Meet financial obligations
• Respect and consider the rights of others

Provide Information

• You have important information about your child’s health. We need to know about symptoms, treatments, medicines and other illnesses.
• You should tell us what you want for your child.
• It is important for you to tell us how you want to take part in your child’s care.
• You should tell us if you don’t understand something about your child’s care.
• If you are not satisfied with your child’s care, please tell us.

Provide Appropriate Care

• You and other members of the health care team will work together to plan your child’s care.
• You are responsible for doing things you agreed to in the plan of care. If you cannot follow the plan, please tell us.

Meet Financial Obligations

• You should make sure your child’s bills are paid as promptly as possible.

Respect and Consider the Rights of Others

• Your family is expected to respect the rights of other children, families and facility personnel.