- What Is the Minnesota Patient Bill of Rights?
The Minnesota Patient Bill of Rights only applies if you are a licensed health care provider or professional treating patients or residents at a hospital or hospital-like settings such as: acute care inpatient facility, outpatient surgical centers, birthing centers, or residential programs for minors. A family physician, for instance, would not be obligated by this law. This is a state law for the purpose of protecting the interest and well-being of patients and residents of health care facilities. This law gives specific rights that should not be violated. Health care facilities are prohibited from requiring patients or residents to waive these rights given by the law as a condition of admission to the facility.
- What Rights Do Patients and Residents Have?
Listed below are some of the rights that are protected by the law but not limited to:
- Information about Your Rights
- Courteous Treatment
- Appropriate Health Care
- Information about Treatment
- Right to Refuse Care
- Confidentiality of Records
- Communication Privacy
For more information on what other rights are protected by this law see: Minnesota Statute 144.651 Subdivisions 4 – 33.
- What Does it Mean to be a Resident?
A person that resides on a permanent or temporary basis at a hospital like-setting because of a permanent or temporary physical or mental illness, injury, disability, or supervision of the elderly. Minnesota Statute 144.651 Subdivison 2
- What is a Birth Center?
A place for only delivering babies that is licensed and not a hospital nor at mother’s usual residence. Minnesota Statute 144.615(1)(b)
- What is a Residential Program?
A hospital that provides residential treatment to minors with emotional disturbance or that provides services to minors on a 24-hour basis. Minnesota Statute 253C.01 Subdivison 1
- When Not Required to Comply
Unless you are engaged in one of the following areas or practices mentioned above as a physician, advanced practice registered nurse’s, or physician assistant’s, you do not need to comply with the patient bill of rights.
- Noncompliance Penalties
Noncompliance with this law could lead to a small fine ranging anywhere from $100 to $500 in addition to a correction order.
Source of Authorities:
(Minn. R. 4658.0191 – PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF RESIDENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS )