WVU Medicine is committed to providing you with the care you want to receive. Among your rights is the right to make decisions concerning your healthcare. You have the right to accept or refuse medical and/or surgical treatment. To make these decisions, it is best to consider what is important to you and to discuss these decisions with your family, friends, and provider.

You may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and you will be informed of the medical results of that action. If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will be fully informed of potential outcomes. You will also receive other needed and available care, if you agree, and will be referred to other care options as needed.

Receive Reasonable and Necessary Medical Care

When able, the hospital must make a reasonable response to your request for care, regardless of race, religion, sex, color, national origin, or ability to pay.

  • When medically advisable, you may be transferred to another facility. This will happen only after you have received complete information about the need for the transfer and other options. You will be informed of risks, benefits, and options. You will not be transferred until the other facility agrees to accept you.
  • You have the right to request, accept, or reject measures and treatment necessary to relieve pain and suffering in accordance with customary medical practice.
  • You have the right to information about your continuing healthcare needs in the form of discharge instructions.
  • You and your family have the right to be involved in your treatment and the plan of care.
  • You have the right to be informed of that plan of care.
  • You have the right to information about Advance Directives (living will and/or medical power of attorney). These documents may express your choices about medical care. These documents may also identify your choice of someone to be your decision-maker if you cannot make decisions for yourself.

What is Informed Consent?

Informed consent means that you understand your treatment choices and their risks. Your caregiver should help you understand the treatment choices and risks, and what will happen if you are not treated. Informed consent is required if you are asked to try any experimental treatment.

Asking Questions

Patients are responsible for asking questions when they do not understand what they have been told about their care or what they are expected to do. This includes expressing concerns over the ability to follow the plan of care.
The patient and family are responsible for the outcomes if they do not follow the care, services, or treatment plan.

Consultation

Patients have the right to request the consultation of another provider when desired and available.