Patient Rights and Responsibilities
As a health care consumer, you have important patient rights to ensure that you receive the health care you deserve.
View the full Patient Rights and Responsibilities document (PDF)
On the link above, the Spanish version is pages 3-6. The list of patient rights is also posted in public areas within UC San Diego hospitals and clinics.
At UC San Diego Health, patient rights are respected without regard to:
- Age
- Gender / gender identity
- Cultural, economic, educational or religious background
- Sexual orientation
- Source of payment
These rights also apply to any person who may have the legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on the patient’s behalf.
You also have certain responsibilities to your health care providers. These include:
- Respect and consideration toward the rights of other patients, physicians, and staff
- Providing accurate information for your health care team about prior illnesses, your pain, medications, and allergies
- Participation in your health care. Ask if you need more information to better understand your health status or treatment options.
- Clear, accurate, and updated insurance information at all visits
If you feel your needs have not been met, we encourage you to contact Patient Experience.
Confidentiality
Although UC San Diego Health has always had privacy and patient confidentiality standards in place to limit unauthorized access or disclosure to personal health information, a federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides you with additional safeguards for ensuring that your health information is protected.
HIPAA also requires UC San Diego to provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains how medical information may be used and disclosed. It also explains your rights related to your medical information.
All new patients are provided a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices and will be asked to sign a form indicating they have read and reviewed this notice.