=A7 23-17-19.1 Rights of patients. = =96 Every=20 health care facility licensed under this chapter shall observe the = following=20 standards and any other standards that may be prescribed in rules and=20 regulations promulgated by the licensing agency with respect to each = patient who=20 utilizes the facility:=20
(1) The patient shall be afforded considerate and=20 respectful care.=20
(2) Upon request, the patient shall be furnished = with the=20 name of the physician responsible for coordinating his or her care.=20
(3) Upon request, the patient shall be furnished = with the=20 name of the physician or other person responsible for conducting any = specific=20 test or other medical procedure performed by the health care facility in = connection with the patient's treatment.=20
(4) The patient shall have the right to refuse any=20 treatment by the health care facility to the extent permitted by law.=20
(5) The patient's right to privacy shall be = respected to=20 the extent consistent with providing adequate medical care to the = patient and=20 with the efficient administration of the health care facility. Nothing = in this=20 section shall be construed to preclude discreet discussion of a = patient's case=20 or examination of appropriate medical personnel.=20
(6) The patient's right to privacy and = confidentiality=20 shall extend to all records pertaining to the patient's treatment except = as=20 otherwise provided by law.=20
(7) The health care facility shall respond in a = reasonable=20 manner to the request of a patient's physician, certified nurse = practitioner=20 and/or a physician's assistant for medical services to the patient. The = health=20 care facility shall also respond in a reasonable manner to the patient's = request=20 for other services customarily rendered by the health care facility to = the=20 extent the services do not require the approval of the patient's = physician,=20 certified nurse practitioner and/or a physician's assistant or are not=20 inconsistent with the patient's treatment.=20
(8) Before transferring a patient to another = facility, the=20 health care facility must first inform the patient of the need for and=20 alternatives to a transfer.=20
(9) Upon request, the patient shall be furnished = with the=20 identities of all other health care and educational institutions that = the health=20 care facility has authorized to participate in the patient's treatment = and the=20 nature of the relationship between the institutions and the health care=20 facility.=20
(10) Except as otherwise provided in this = subparagraph, if=20 the health care facility proposes to use the patient in any human = subjects=20 research, it shall first thoroughly inform the patient of the proposal = and offer=20 the patient the right to refuse to participate in the project.=20
(b) No facility shall be required to inform = prospectively=20 the patient of the proposal and the patient's right to refuse to = participate=20 when: (i) the facility's human subjects research involves the = investigation of=20 potentially lifesaving devices, medications and/or treatments and the = patient is=20 unable to grant consent due to a life-threatening situation and consent = is not=20 available from the agent pursuant to chapter 23-4.10 of the general laws = or the=20 patient's decision maker if an agent has not been designated or an = applicable=20 advanced directive has not been executed by the patient; and (ii) the = facility's=20 institutional review board approves the human subjects research pursuant = to the=20 requirements of 21 CFR Part 50 and/or 45 CFR Part 46 (relating to the = informed=20 consent of human subjects). Any health care facility engaging in = research=20 pursuant to the requirements of subparagraph (b) herein shall file a = copy of the=20 relevant research protocol with the department of health, which filing = shall be=20 publicly available.=20
(11) Upon request, the patient shall be allowed to = examine=20 and shall be given an explanation of the bill rendered by the health = care=20 facility irrespective of the source of payment of the bill.=20
(12) Upon request, the patient shall be permitted = to=20 examine any pertinent health care facility rules and regulations that=20 specifically govern the patient's treatment.=20
(13) The patient shall be offered treatment without = discrimination as to race, color, religion, national origin, or source = of=20 payment.=20
(14) Patients shall be provided with a summarized = medical=20 bill within thirty (30) days of discharge from a health care facility. = Upon=20 request, the patient shall be furnished with an itemized copy of his or = her=20 bill. When patients are residents of state-operated institutions and = facilities,=20 the provisions of this subsection shall not apply.=20
(15) Upon request, the patient shall be allowed the = use of=20 a personal television set provided that the television complies with=20 underwriters' laboratory standards and O.S.H.A. standards, and so long = as the=20 television set is classified as a portable television.=20
(16) No charge shall be made for furnishing a = health record=20 or part of a health record to a patient, his or her attorney or = authorized=20 representative if the record or part of the record is necessary for the = purpose=20 of supporting an appeal under any provision of the Social Security Act, = 42=20 U.S.C. =A7 301 et seq., and the request is accompanied by documentation = of the=20 appeal or a claim under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act, = chapters 29 =96 38 of title 28. A provider shall furnish a health record = requested=20 pursuant to this section within thirty (30) days of the request. = Further, for=20 patients of school based health centers, the director is authorized to = specify=20 by regulation an alternative list of age appropriate rights commensurate = with=20 this section.=20
(17) The patient shall have the right to have his = or her=20 pain assessed on a regular basis.=20
(18) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this =
section,=20
upon request, patients receiving care through hospitals, nursing homes, =
assisted=20
living residences and home health care providers, shall have the right =
to=20
receive information concerning hospice care, including the benefits of =
hospice=20
care, the cost, and how to enroll in hospice care.
History of=20
Section.
(P.L. 1974, ch. 168, =A7 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 238, =A7 1; =
P.L. 1978,=20
ch. 269, =A7 5; P.L. 1978, ch. 359, =A7 1; G.L. 1956, =A7 23-16-9.1; =
P.L. 1979, ch.=20
39, =A7 1; G.L. 1956, =A7 23-17-19.1; P.L. 1984, ch. 220, =A7 2; P.L. =
1990, ch. 492, =A7=20
7; P.L. 1993, ch. 64, =A7 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 216, =A7 3; P.L. 1999, ch. =
384, =A7 3;=20
P.L. 2001, ch. 168, =A7 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 331, =A7 2; P.L. 2003, ch. =
238, =A7 1; P.L.=20
2003, ch. 306, =A7 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 225, =A7 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 362, =A7 =
1.)=20