Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights

You have a right to access healthcare services and treatment that meets your needs.

Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system, helping patients with the costs of seeing a doctor and obtaining medicines. Depending on your eligibility, this can include visiting your doctor, undergoing medical tests or scans, and accessing public hospital services.

In public hospitals you can choose to be treated as a public or private patient. As a public patient, you will not be charged for the healthcare services you receive. If you choose to be treated as a private patient, you or your health insurer will be charged for some services.

You have a right to ask for full information about the costs of your treatment from your doctor, hospital and private health insurer before you decide whether or not you will proceed with treatment.

Some healthcare services may not be available in all places at all times. This means that you may need to travel or wait to access the health care that you need.

Healthcare services should be accessible for people with different needs, including people with disabilities.

You can find more information about Medicare, including eligibility criteria and the services that are covered, by visiting https://humanservices.gov.au/Medicare.

You have a right to receive safe and high quality health care that meets national safety standards. Your health care should be delivered with skill and competence by healthcare providers who are suitably qualified and treatments should be based on evidence, as well as your personal needs and preferences.

You have a right to be cared for in an environment that is safe and makes you feel safe. Healthcare services should be free from threatening, violent or abusive behaviour, not only towards patients and consumers but towards all healthcare staff.

You should expect healthcare services that are culturally safe and welcoming. All healthcare providers should be respectful of cultural differences. Let healthcare staff know if you are concerned about the way you are treated, your health condition, your care, or you feel unsafe or disrespected in any way.

You have a right to be treated as an individual, and with dignity and respect.

You have a right to be treated fairly and without discrimination, based on your age, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability or other personal characteristics.

You have a right to have your culture, identity, beliefs and choices recognised and respected.

This includes your beliefs and choices about your health and treatment such as the gender of the person providing your care, the involvement of support people, or your dietary requirements while in hospital.

Healthcare providers should ask about your needs, listen to what is important to you and provide care that is respectful of your preferences.

You have a right to ask questions and be involved in open and honest communication with your healthcare provider.

You are responsible for sharing information with your healthcare provider such as your medical history and the names of any medicines you are taking. 

You have the right to express your treatment expectations and what matters to you.

You have a right to seek further information if there is something that you do not understand or are worried about.

You have a right to make decisions with your healthcare provider, to the extent that you choose and are able to.

You also have a right to be supported by a friend, family member, carer or interpreter when making decisions about your health care. You can also choose not to be involved in decision-making, if that is what you prefer.

Your healthcare provider must obtain your informed consent before they treat you. To do this, your healthcare provider should explain the risks and benefits of the different treatment options available to you, and answer any questions you might have about these options. You have a right to accept or decline the treatment proposed by your doctor.

You have a right to appoint a substitute decision-maker to make medical decisions for you in the event that you aren’t able to make these decisions yourself.
 

Your healthcare provider should talk to you about your health care in a way that is easy for you to understand. They should explain the different options available to you, and talk to you about the possible benefits and risks of different tests and treatments so you can give your informed consent.

You have a right to receive information about different kinds of healthcare services, how long you may need to wait for treatment, and the likely associated costs.

You should be given time to think about the information you are given, and to make your decision without feeling pressured. Your healthcare provider may tell you which option they think would be best for you, but you can choose to accept or refuse the treatment offered.

You also have a right to obtain a second opinion from another healthcare provider or medical expert.

You have a right to use an interpreter, at no cost to you, if you have difficulty speaking or understanding English. Interpreters should be accessible at important points during your care such as when discussing your medical history, treatments, diagnoses and when you are required to give informed consent.

You have a right to access your health information. Speak to your healthcare provider about the options available for accessing this information. It is important to let your healthcare provider know if any information is incorrect, incomplete or out of date.

You have a right to be told if something has gone wrong during your health care. This is called open disclosure. If something has gone wrong, your healthcare provider should provide you with an apology or expression of regret, explain what went wrong and how this may affect you, and assist you with any support you might need. You should also be informed about what is being done to make care safer in the future.

You have a right to have your personal privacy respected. This includes respect for the privacy of your body, belongings, personal space and information.

You have a right to have information about you and your health kept secure and confidential.

You should expect that this information will be collected, recorded, used and discussed in a private environment and will be stored in accordance with the relevant privacy laws.

Your healthcare provider and others involved in your medical treatment and care, must keep your personal information confidential.

Sometimes your healthcare provider will need to share information about you with others involved in your care. They will only share information with someone not involved in your care with your permission, or if they are required to do so by law, such as in a medical emergency.

You have a right to give feedback or make a complaint about your health care without it affecting the way that you are treated.

Your healthcare service should have a process for managing feedback provided by consumers. Often, the simplest way to have your concerns addressed is to contact your healthcare provider or service directly.

You have a right to have your concerns addressed in a transparent and timely way. If you are not satisfied with the response of your healthcare provider or service, you can contact the Health Care Complaints Commission or health department in your state or territory.

It is important that healthcare services receive feedback so that care can be improved for you and for others.