The code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (1996):

This code applies to all providers of health and disability services. Establishing the rights of consumers, and the obligations and duties of providers to comply with the code. There are 10 rights set out in the code:

1) Right to be treated with respect

• Every consumer has the right to be treated with respect

• Every consumer has the right to have his or her privacy respected

• Every consumer has the right to be provided services that take into account needs, values and beliefs of different cultural, religious, social and ethnic groups.

2) Right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation

3) Right to dignity and independence

4) Right to services of an appropriate standard

• Every consumer has the right to have services provided with reasonable care and skill

• Every consumer has the right to have services provided that comply with legal, professional, ethical, and other relevant standards.

• Every consumer has the right to have services provided in a manner consistent with his or her needs

• Every consumer has the right to have services provided in a manner that minimises potential harm -

• Every consumer has the right to co-operation among providers to ensure quality and continuity of services.

5) Right to effective communication

• Every consumer has the right to effective communication in a form, language, and manner that enables the consumer to understand the information provided

• Every consumer has the right to an environment that enables both consumer and provider to communicate openly, honestly, and effectively

6) Right to be fully informed

- Every consumer has the right to the information that a reasonable consumer, in that consumer’s circumstances, would expect to receive:

• An explanation of his or her condition

• An explanation of the options available, including an assessment of the expected risks, side effects, benefits, and cost of each option

• Advice of the estimated time within which the service will be provided

• Notification of any proposed participation in teaching or research, including whether the research requires and has received ethical approval

• Any other information required by legal, professional, ethical, and other relevant standards

• The results of tests

• The results of procedures

- Before making a choice or giving consent, every consumer has the right to the information that a reasonable consumer, needs to make an informed choice

- Every consumer has the right to honest and accurate answers to questions relating to services - Every consumer has the right to receive, on request, a written summary of information provided

7) Right to make an informed choice and give informed consent

• Services may be provided to a consumer only if that consumer makes an informed choice and gives informed consent

• Every consumer has the right to refuse services and to withdraw consent

8) Right to support

- Every consumer has the right to have one or more support persons of his or her choice present, except where safety may be compromised, or other rights may be unreasonably infringed.

9) Rights in respect of teaching or research

- The rights in this code extend to those occasions when a consumer is participating in, or it is proposed that a consumer