Insight and value

 

Individuals in society are committed to preserving and respecting the dignity of human beings. This is particularly crucial in times of illness. According to the Constitution, attention to human dignity is one of the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic system, and the government is obliged to provide health services for each individual in the country. Based on this, the provision of health services must be fair and based on respect for the rights and dignity of patients.

 

This charter is based on the high values ​​of human dignity rooted in Islamic and Iranian culture and is founded on the principle of equality of inherent dignity for all recipients of health services. Its aim is to regulate and strengthen the human relationship between health service providers and recipients, with the goal of preserving and enhancing it.

 

Patient Rights

 

 

Provision of healthcare services must:

1-1) Be in line with the dignity and status of humans and respectful of their values, cultural beliefs, and religious convictions.

2-1) Be based on honesty, fairness, courtesy, and accompanied by kindness.

3-1) Be free from any form of discrimination, including nationality, cultural, religious, disease type, and gender.

4-1) Be based on current knowledge.

5-1) Based on the superiority of patient's interests.

6-1) Based on the distribution of health resources, prioritizing justice and treatment priorities for patients.

7-1) Based on the coordination of all aspects of care, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

8-1) Accompanied by providing all basic and essential welfare facilities and amenities, free from unnecessary pain, suffering, and restrictions.

9-1) Special attention to the rights of vulnerable groups in society, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, psychiatric patients, prisoners, mentally and physically disabled individuals, and those without guardians.

10-1) Provided in the shortest possible time and with respect for the patient's time.

11-1) Taking into account variables such as language, age, and gender of service recipients.

12-1) In necessary and emergency care (emergency situations), regardless of the provision of expenses. In non-urgent cases (elective procedures), it should be based on defined criteria.

13-1) In necessary and emergency care (emergency situations), if appropriate services cannot be provided, after providing necessary services and explanations, arrangements should be made for the patient's transfer to an equipped facility.

14-1) In the final stages of life when the patient's condition is irreversible and death is imminent, care should be provided with the aim of preserving the patient's comfort. Comfort entails reducing the patient's pain and suffering, addressing their psychological, social, spiritual, and emotional needs, as well as those of their family, during the dying process. The patient has the right to be accompanied by a person of their choice in their final moments of life.

 

 

1-2) The content of the information should include the following:

1-2-2) The content of the Patient Rights Charter at the time of admission;

2-1-2) Guidelines and predictable costs of hospital services, including medical and non-medical services, insurance regulations, and introduction of support systems at the time of admission;

3-1-2) The names, responsibilities, and professional ranks of members of the medical team responsible for providing care, including physicians, nurses, and students, and their professional relationships with each other;

4-1-2) Diagnostic and therapeutic methods, strengths and weaknesses of each method, potential side effects, disease diagnosis, prognosis, and all relevant information affecting the patient's decision-making process;

5-1-2) The method of accessing the treating physician and key members of the medical team during treatment;

6-1-2) All research-related procedures.

7-1-2) Provision of necessary training for continuation of treatment.

 

2-2) The method of providing information should be as follows:

1-2-2) Information must be provided at an appropriate time and tailored to the patient's conditions, including anxiety, pain, and individual characteristics such as language, education, and comprehension abilities, unless:

- Delays in initiating treatment due to the provision of the aforementioned information may harm the patient. (In this case, information transfer should be carried out at the earliest appropriate time after necessary actions are taken.)

- If a patient refuses to receive information despite being informed of their right to it, their request should be respected, unless not informing the patient would endanger them or others.

The patient can have access to all information recorded in their clinical file and receive a copy of it, and request correction of any inaccuracies therein.

 

 

1-3) The scope of choice and decision-making regarding the following matters is limited:

1-1-3) Choosing a treating physician and a healthcare provider within the framework of regulations.

2-1-3) Choosing and consulting with a second physician.

3-1-3) Participation or non-participation in any research, ensuring that their decision will not affect the continuity or manner of receiving health services.

4-1-3) Acceptance or refusal of proposed treatments after being informed of possible consequences arising from accepting or refusing them, except in cases of suicide or instances where refusal of treatment poses serious risk to another person.

5-1-3) Patient's prior consent regarding future medical procedures, when the patient is capable of decision-making, should be documented and used as guidance for medical interventions in the event of the patient's loss of decision-making capacity, with legal considerations being observed by healthcare providers and substitute decision-makers for the patient.

 

2-3) The conditions for choice and decision-making include the following:

1-2-3) The patient's choice and decision-making must be voluntary and informed, based on receiving sufficient and comprehensive information (as mentioned in paragraph 2).

2-2-3) After providing the information, sufficient and reasonable time should be given to the patient for decision-making and choice.

 

 

1-4) Observance of the principle of confidentiality regarding all information related to the patient is mandatory unless excepted by law.

2-4) Respect for the patient's privacy must be maintained in all stages of care, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It is essential to provide all necessary facilities to ensure the patient's privacy.

3-4) Only the patient, the healthcare team, and authorized individuals as deemed by the law are permitted to have access to the information.

4-4) The patient has the right to have a trusted individual accompany them during diagnostic stages, including examinations. It is the right of a child to have one of their parents accompany them at all stages of treatment unless it contradicts medical necessities.

 

 

1-5) Every patient has the right to lodge a complaint with competent authorities without disruption in the quality of healthcare services if they claim a violation of their rights, which is the subject of this charter.

2-5) Patients have the right to be informed about how their complaints are handled and the outcomes of their complaints.

3-5) Damages resulting from errors by healthcare providers must be compensated in the shortest possible time after investigation and verification in accordance with regulations.

In the implementation of the provisions of this Charter, if a patient lacks decision-making capacity for any reason, all patient rights mentioned in this Charter will be the responsibility of the legal decision-maker. However, if the substitute decision-maker obstructs the patient's treatment against the doctor's opinion, the doctor can request a review of the decision-making through the relevant authorities.

If a patient lacks sufficient capacity to make decisions but can reasonably decide on a part of the treatment process, their decision must be respected.