Patients Rights 2Ed

This book describes experience of the author* with patients, highlighting the need for the recognition of their rights. Today there is no law which provides for the rights of a patient in India. In the United States and Europe efforts were being made to convert patient’s right into action in the form of Legislation. This has now been done. However, no serious effort is being made in India on this subject. In order to complete the basic list of Rights, the author has referred to more than a thousand publications including the bill of rights passed by the US Senate, the Declaration of Patient’s Rights by the World Health Organization in Europe and several articles on the subject from reputed international journals, mostly written by doctors, nurses and paramedical staff who were concerned and are most likely to protect patients from infringement of their rights. The best way to get better services is to educate the customer. Medical practice in India and all over the world is deteriorating due to commercialization. If an enlightened patient, who is aware of his rights, chooses his physician or surgeon on the basis of how well he protects the patient’s rights, medical practice will become much more friendly and compassionate. Advice regarding choice of physician, choice of a hospital and how to obtain quality medical care are included. This edition is intended to update developments in this area due to advancements in techniques as also in technology. *Author: Prof A Sampath Kumar is former Professor and Head, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic Centre, All India institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He is one of the world’s topmost cardiothoracic surgeons with super specialization in valvular heart surgery. He has to his credit experience of having performed over 15,000 cardiac surgeries.