The Forum for Creche and Child Care Services in Tamil Nadu, TN-Forces, has called for a grievance redress mechanism in private hospitals to ensure patients’ rights.
The NGO’s convener, K.Shanmugavelayutham, along with Makkal Nalavazhvu Iyakkam, in a statement said patients must have the right to access their records, second opinion, respectful care, informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, acceptance and refusal of a treatment, refusal of experimental treatment and knowledge of hospital regulations besides information about continuing care and medical fees.
Stating that while the safety of the hospital and the doctors were important, it was necessary for the Indian Medical Association and private hospitals to realise that a grievance mechanism would instil confidence in the patients ,
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Dr. Shanmugavelayutham said, referring to the State-wide strike by private hospitals and the State chapter of the Indian Medical Association on Saturday.
“The need of the hour is to establish the responsive mechanism, including directly accountable to its patients. The government has a major role to control and monitor the private sector,” he said.