What are the issues?
Issues
Despite significant progress in healthcare delivery, patients across the country continue to encounter systemic and ethical challenges that compromise their well-being, dignity, and safety. At Charter of Patients' Rights, we work to identify, highlight, and address the following pressing issues:
Lack of Awareness of Patient Rights
Many patients are unaware of their basic rights in healthcare settings, such as the right to informed consent, privacy, and respectful treatment. This lack of knowledge often leads to exploitation, miscommunication, or compromised care.
Inadequate Informed Consent
Patients sometimes undergo medical procedures or treatments without fully understanding the risks, alternatives, or potential outcomes. Informed consent is a critical right that ensures patients make educated decisions about their own health.
Medical Negligence and Malpractice
Errors in diagnosis, delayed treatment, or negligence in care can lead to serious harm or even loss of life. Patients have the right to safe, competent, and timely medical care from qualified professionals.
Denial of
Emergency Care
In urgent situations, some patients are denied treatment due to financial constraints, lack of documentation, or institutional policies. Every individual has the right to immediate and life-saving medical attention without discrimination.
Violation of Privacy and Confidentiality
A patient’s medical history and personal information must be kept confidential. Breaches in data privacy or unauthorized sharing of health records violate ethical and legal standards.
Discrimination in Healthcare Delivery
Patients may face biased treatment based on their gender, caste, socio-economic status, religion, or disabilities. Such discrimination undermines the principles of equality and dignity in healthcare.
Unethical Billing and
Overcharging
Many patients are subjected to inflated or hidden medical charges without prior information. Lack of cost transparency leads to financial distress and mistrust in the healthcare system.
Poor Communication and Lack of Empathy
A major issue in healthcare is the absence of clear communication between patients and healthcare providers. Patients often feel unheard, neglected, or misunderstood, which affects their overall healing experience.