The Ohio legislature, hoping to reduce medical malpractice claims, enacted a code of laws to protect a patient’s rights. These laws ensure patients are informed of their rights, involved in their treatment and are advised of grievance procedures if they feel their rights have been violated.
Right of Access to a Patient Rights Advocate
Ohio law requires hospitals to appoint a patient’s right advocate to inform patients of their rights in writing at the time of admission to the hotel. The patient rights advocate is not involved in decisions regarding the patient’s medical care. An advocate is also charged with assisting a patient through the grievance process.
Right to Medical Records
Ohio laws permit a patient to view his medical records, have questions answered about them and make changes to them when appropriate. A patient is not entitled to access at anytime, but rather upon reasonable request. Additionally, a patient is entitled to limit the release of his medical records.
Right to Freedom and Safety
A patient in Ohio is entitled to treatment in a safe hospital free of abuse. Ohio law also prevents a patient from being restrained without consenting to the restraints.
Right to Participate in Treatment
A patient in Ohio has the right to participate in the decision of what treatments he will undergo and in any changes that may need to be made to the plan in the future. If a patient is unable to participate in decisions regarding his treatment, his legal guardian or family members are legally entitled to be informed of his condition and treatment options.
A patient in Ohio has the right to receive notice of his condition and treatments prior to treatments beginning. A patient also has a right to be informed of any pain medications that may manage his pain and to agree to ingest those medications. This rule entitles the patient to have any and all questions answered regarding his treatment and to refuse treatment if he wishes.
Right to Prompt Family Notification
A patient in Ohio has the right to have his family members, legal guardians or representatives notified that he is in a hospital and being treated. On a related note, a patient is entitled to refuse to participate in medical studies not related to his treatment. A patient also has the right to refuse any medications that may alter his mental state.
Getting Legal Help in Ohio
If you received treatment in an Ohio hospital and believe that your patient rights were violated, seek legal advice. A lawyer will review the facts of your hospitalization and discuss whether you have a viable claim against the hospital or its staff.
