Patient Rights and Responsibilities

  1. Patient Rights

A. Right to receive medical care: Patients have the right to receive appropriate healthcare services for the protection and promotion of their health. This right must not be infringed on the basis of gender, age, religion, social status, or financial circumstances, and healthcare professionals may not refuse treatment without just cause.

B. Right to be informed and to make decisions: Patients have the right to receive sufficient explanations from their attending physician, nurses, and other medical staff regarding their condition, treatment methods, expected outcomes, possible side effects, and medical expenses. Patients may ask questions in detail and decide whether to consent to the proposed care.

C. Right to protection of privacy and confidentiality: Patients have the right to have information related to their physical condition and health protected. Medical professionals and healthcare institutions may not disclose or publish confidential information, including personal information, except where consent has been obtained from the patient or where disclosure is required by law, such as for a criminal investigation.

D. Right to request consultation and mediation: In the event of a dispute related to medical services, patients may request consultation or mediation through the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency at 1670-2545 or through its website at www.k-medi.or.kr.

 2. Patient Responsibilities

A. Responsibility to trust and respect healthcare professionals: Patients should provide accurate information about their health to medical staff and should respect and cooperate with the treatment plan established by their healthcare providers.

B. Responsibility not to obtain medical care by improper means: Patients must verify their identity before receiving care and must not seek treatment through false or improper methods, including the use of another person's name or identification.