Patients, Visitors and Guests - Your Rights: Kids & their Parents/Guardians

Rights – As a Child (newborn to age 17), I have the right:

To expect the nurses and doctors to take care of me when my parents can’t stay with me.
To expect the nurses and doctors to talk to me about why I am sick and teach me how to stay well after I go home.
To have someone help me with my schoolwork if I am sick for a long time.
To have the people taking care of me understand that I may really miss all of the activities I like to do everyday at home and let me do these things in the hospital if possible.
To have my parents, sisters, brothers, friends and family visit me in the hospital.
To have toys, books, games, puzzles and movies available that are OK for kids my age.
To have a bed, chairs, and tables just my size that I can use.
To be cared for in a safe area so I will not hurt myself.
To wear my pajamas and keep some of my own toys and things in my room.
To talk to my doctors and nurses.
To learn how to take care of myself in the hospital like I do at home.
To have the nurses and doctors tell me what is going to be done to me before they do it and if it will hurt.
To have the doctors and nurses let me play, watch TV and do the things I do with my family at home.
To tell the nurses and doctors if I hurt.
To not be kept in my room or my bed where I can’t get out unless my nurse or doctor tells me why.

Rights – As a Parent or Guardian of a Pediatric Patient (newborn to age 17), I have the right:

To be recognized as the primary caregiver of your child and be allowed to assume as much or as little care for your child as you feel comfortable, and as is consonant with sound medical practice.
To be able to visit your child and remain with your child as much as possible.
To participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of the plan of care for your child.
To have an ongoing free exchange of information with the medical and nursing staff regarding your child’s condition, plan of care and response to care and treatment.
To have all procedures explained and have time and privacy provided to assimilate medical information.
To have emotional and educational support in dealing with your feelings about your child’s treatment and illness.
To expect that your child will have appropriate assessment and management of pain.
To expect that your child will be free from seclusion or restraint, of any form, that is not medically necessary.

Responsibilities for Children (newborn to age 17) - As a child, these are the things I should do:

Tell the nurses and doctors if someone has hurt, upset or touched me in a way I did not like. The nurses and doctors will listen to me and help me.
Tell the nurses and doctors if I do not like what my parents or other grown-ups are doing to me.
Tell the nurses and doctors if I hurt. As a child, if I have a problem coming to the hospital, getting care or going home from the hospital, I should ask for help by:
Telling my mom and/or dad what happened and why I am unhappy.
Telling the nurse what happened and why I am unhappy.
Telling my doctor what happened and why I am unhappy.

Responsibilities for Parents/Guardians of a Pediatric Patient (newborn to age 17):

To provide information about your child’s health history, routines and activities of daily living, and fears and anxieties.
To report perceived risks in the care of your child and unexpected changes in their condition.
To respect the privacy of other children and their families.
To notify us if you are dissatisfied with the care provided for your child or family. You may do this through your physician, nurse manager or by calling the telephone number designated for this purpose at the facility in which you are a patient.
To meet the financial obligations secondary to your child’s treatment.