Patient rights and advocacy is about what patients may expect and decide when they receive medical care. It covers consent, privacy, refusing treatment, planning for the end of life, and equal access for people who speak other languages or have disabilities. Patients, providers, hospitals, courts, and federal and state agencies all take part.
An independent team explaining how government works
At the heart of the American opioid crisis lies a simple, powerful, and ultimately devastating concept: "Pain as the Fifth Vital Sign." This report examines how…
The American opioid crisis is a public health catastrophe that has claimed more than 800,000 lives between 1999 and 2023. It began in doctor's offices across…
Advance care planning is a fundamental right and an act of personal control that ensures your medical treatment matches your values when you cannot speak for…
In a Washington case decided in 1990, the Court let the state treat a prison inmate who had a serious mental illness with antipsychotic drugs against…
Informed Consent covers the right to understand a treatment before agreeing, Right to Refuse Treatment covers the right to say no, and Advance Directives covers written instructions about care if a person cannot speak for themselves.
Medical Privacy and Records Access covers who may see health records, and Language Access and Disability Accommodations covers equal access to care for people who need interpreters or accommodations.
The slogan "My Body, My Choice" embodies a core American principle of bodily autonomy backed by decades of law, ethics codes, and court decisions.…
Medical data serves as the backbone of America's healthcare system, essential for treatment, billing, and public health monitoring. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability…
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal initiative offering a pathway for individuals who have experienced specific injuries following vaccination with…
Organ donation is a testament to human generosity, offering a lifeline to individuals facing end-stage organ failure in the United States. Donating organs can…
Which HHS office handles your health complaint, how a complaint differs from an appeal, what each office can and cannot do, and what happens after you file.
