Informing Patients of their Rights: The status of individual departments in the Svitavy hospital

Author: Ilona Kabátová Institution: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Institute of Social Medicine, Department of Nursing Title: Informing Patients of their Rights: The status of individual departments in the Svitavy hospital Supervisor: Bc. Markéta Nemšovská Number of pages: 146 Number of supplements: 7 Defence year: 2011 Keywords: ethics, codes of ethics, awareness, patient, patients'rights This thesis deals with patients' rights. Patients' rights are specified in the Code of the Patients' Rights and every patient should be properly informed about them. A new relationship has been formed between the health professionals and patients and it began the procedure of introducing the patients' rights. This brings new obligations for medical personnel and new ways of communication. The result of this should be an informed patient. Only patients who are informed about their health, treatment options, and risks and whose rights are respected will feel safe and able to cope with their illness as well as the medical procedure. Well informed patiens will be able to live well according to the disease. The thesis is dividend into two parts, theoretical and practical. The theoretical part deals with general issues of patients' rights, respect for patients' rights, history..