Seminars and Symposia
Keep abreast of medical developments and other events View All
Patients' Rights
We place our patients—you—at the core of our practice. As soon as you walk into our facility, we position an experienced and expert team of health care practitioners to take care of you.
As our patient, please know that we think of you as a partner in your own care. This is why we want you to know your rights and responsibilities as a patient in our hospital. We want you to be well informed, to be able to communicate openly with your health care team, to be empowered to promote your safety and to participate in your treatment.
We invite you and your family to join us as active members of your care team. If you do not understand, or need help understanding your rights, we will provide you with assistance, including an interpreter, if necessary.
Your Rights As A Patient
As our patient, you have the right to:
- Receive considerate and respectful care and treatment in a clean and safe environment free of unnecessary restraints and without discrimination with regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or source of payment.
- Receive emergency care, if you need it.
- Receive care in a safe environment free from all forms of abuse, neglect or harassment.
- Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in easy-to-understand terms. If it is medically inadvisable for you to receive this information, you may designate your legal representative for this purpose.
- Participate in decisions about your treatment and discharge from the hospital.
- Give written informed consent before any non-emergency procedure begins.
- Have your pain assessed and to be involved in decisions about managing your pain.
- Be informed of the names, positions and functions of any doctor or hospital staff in charge of, or involved in your care.
- Refuse treatment and be informed of the effects and consequences of refusal. You can refuse treatment, examination or observation by a particular health care practitioner, and can request for their replacement. We will inform you about the consequences of treatment refusal, or of replacing a doctor or staff member, and will provide a replacement.
- Receive all the information you need to give informed consent for. This includes proposed procedures or treatments that need informed consent, including possible risks and benefits, participation in research, and orders not to resuscitate.
- Designate a legal representative to receive the information and give consent if your are too ill or if it is medically inadvisable for you to receive the information and make the decision. Here is more information on ADVANCE DIRECTIVES/ DO NOT RESUSCITATE ORDERS.
- Review your medical record without charge and obtain a copy for a reasonable fee. You will not be denied a copy because you cannot afford the fee.
- Receive, free of charge, a written discharge plan and description of your medications.
- Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all your information and records.
- Receive an itemized bill, including an explanation of all chargers.
- Complain—without fear of reprisal—about the care and services you receive.
- Authorize family members and other adults who will receive priority to visit, consistent with your ability to receive visitors.
- Inform staff of your wishes to donate organs. You may document these in your health care proxy or on a donor card available from the hospital.
- Discuss ethical issues surrounding your care. If you or a family member needs to discuss an ethical issue related to your care, a member of the Ethics & Culture Service is available at all times. Ethics & Culture is headed by Dr. David Damaso.
Your Responsibilities as a Patient
As a patient at Makati Medical Center, you and/ or your representative are expected to:
- Provide complete and accurate information about your health, including present condition, past illnesses and hospitalizations, medications, natural products and vitamins, and any other matter that pertains to your health.
- Provide complete and accurate information including your full name, address, home telephone number, date of birth, insurance carrier, and employer, when it is necessary.
- Provide your doctor or the hospital with a copy of your advance directive if you have one and if you want it to apply during your admission.
- Ask questions when you do not understand what your doctor or other member of your health care team will tell you about your diagnosis and treatment. You should inform your doctor if you anticipate problems in following prescribed treatment. Inform your doctor if you are considering alternative therapies.
- Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management plan. You should tell your doctor or nurse about any worries you have about taking pain medication.
- Leave valuables at home and bring only those items that you need during your hospital stay.
- Abide by all hospital rules and regulations.
- Comply with the NO SMOKING policy.
- Comply with Visiting Hours and Policies to ensure the rights and comfort of the other patients, as well. Be considerate of noise levels, privacy and safety. Weapons are prohibited inside hospital premises.
- Treat hospital staff, other patients, and visitors with courtesy and respect.
- Provide complete and accurate information for insurance claims and work with the hospital’s Credit and Collection Staff to ensure proper payment settlement.
- Know your health insurance coverage and related policies including the hospital and doctors covered by your insurance provider and its policies about required pre-approvals, covered services and admissions.
- Pay your hospital and physician bills in a timely manner.
- Ask questions of your insurance company or the hospital’s Billing Services if there is a financial issue that you do not understand.
Related Topics
- The Patient Relations Office
- Patients' Privacy
- Admission Procedures
- How to Pay
- Facilities for Patients
- Patient Convenience
- Visitor's Guide
- International Patients
- Your Security at MMC
- Corporate Social Responsibility Program
- Downloadable Documents
- FAQs
Health Topics
Reap the benefits of staying healthy. Increase your health knowledge—and your lifespan—with interesting articles on keeping fit, eating well, helping your loved ones heal from common ailments, dealing with pain, and much more.
Read More »Corporate News
Learn about innovations in patient care, new procedures in our departments, new equipment upgrades, new investments, and the countless other ways that we make our services exceptional.
Read More »
Centers of Excellence
Get the exceptional patient care you deserve in our multidisciplinary Centers of Excellence that are stocked with advanced equipment—and staffed by experienced specialists, caring nurses and outstanding staff.
Read More »International Services
Obtain safe, low-cost, world-class medical care as you take time off to savor the sights and sounds of an exotic tropical country with a strong tradition of healing—and a steady source of top-notch health care professionals..
Read More »