Your Rights & Responsibilities

Summary of Rights

Summary of RightsGeorgia law requires that your health care provider or health care facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care and that you respect the health care provider’s or health care facility’s right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of this law from your health care provider or health care facility.

A patient has the right to:

  • Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her dignity, and with protection of privacy.
  • Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
  • Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.
  • Know what patient support services are available, including if an interpreter is available if the patient does not speak English.
  • Know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.
  • Be given by the health care provider information such as diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
  • Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
  • Be given full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for care.
  • Know whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate if the patient is covered by Medicare.
  • Receive prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
  • Receive a copy of an understandable itemized bill and, if requested, to have the charges explained.
  • Receive medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
  • Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
  • Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such research.
  • Express complaints regarding any violation of his or her rights.