As a patient, parent, legal guardian of a child receiving home services, or at a clinic operated by the Fulton County Public Health Department, you have the following rights and responsibilities:

1. THE RIGHT TO: receive service(s) without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, national origin, or sponsor; 

2. THE RIGHT TO: be treated with consideration, respect and dignity including privacy in treatment;

3. THE RIGHT TO: be informed of the services available from Public Health;

4. THE RIGHT TO: be informed of the provisions for off-hour emergency coverage;

5. THE RIGHT TO: be informed of the charges for services, eligible for third-party reimbursements, and the availability of free or reduced cost care when applicable;

6. THE RIGHT TO: receive an itemized copy of your account statement, upon request when applicable;

7. THE RIGHT TO: obtain complete and current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis;

8. THE RIGHT TO: receive information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any non-emergency procedure or treatment or both.  An informed consent shall include, as a minimum, the provisions of information concerning the specific procedure or treatment, or both, the reasonably foreseeable risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment, if any, as a reasonable medical practitioner under similar circumstances would disclose in a manner permitting knowledgeable decision;

9. THE RIGHT TO: refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be fully informed of the medical consequences of such action;

10. THE RIGHT TO: refuse to participate in experimental research;

11. THE RIGHT TO: voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the staff, the Board of Supervisors, and the NYS Department of Health without fear of reprisal;

12. THE RIGHT TO: express complaints about care and services provided and to have Public Health investigate such complaints.  Public Health is also responsible for notifying you or your designee that if you are not satisfied by the Public Health response, that you may complain to the NYS Department of Health’s Patient Care Hotline 1-800-220-7184;

13. THE RIGHT TO: privacy and confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to your treatment;

14. THE RIGHT TO: approve or refuse the release or disclosure of the contents of your medical records any health care practitioner and/or health care facility, except as required by law or third-party payment contract;

15. THE RIGHT TO: access your medical record pursuant to the provisions of section 18 of the Public Health Law, subpart 50-3 of this title, and Fulton County Public Health’s policies and procedures relative to medical record access;

16. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: provide information regarding your health status, medical history, and medicine being taken;

17. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: notify your private physician and Public Health Staff of any changes in your health condition;

18. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: follow the advice and instructions given to you by Public Health Staff;

19. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: ask questions of the Public Health Staff to fully understand care given to you;

20. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: keep appointments and to notify Public Health of any inability to do so;

21. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO: cooperate with Public Health Staff of all races, color, sex, religion, age, nationalities, marital status, sexual         orientation, and ethnic origin.