Charter for hospitalized patients

French law provides for a hospitalised patient's charter, the aim of which is to inform all patients admitted to a health care establishment of their essential rights, as well as the rules governing hospital life. 

1. Everyone is free to choose the health care establishment that will care for them, within the limits of each establishment's possibilities. The public hospital service is accessible to all, especially the poor and, in an emergency, to persons without social security coverage. It is also adapted to disabled people.
2. Health care establishments guarantee the quality of reception, treatment and care. They are attentive to pain relief and do their utmost to ensure that everyone lives in dignity, with particular attention to the end of life.
3. Information given to patients must be accessible and reliable. Hospitalised patients shall participate in treatment decisions concerning them. They may be assisted by a trusted person chosen freely by them.
4. A medical procedure can only be performed with the free and informed consent of the patient. They have the right to refuse all treatment. Any adult can express their wishes regarding end of life in advance directives.
5. Specific consent is needed for patients participating in biomedical research, the donation and use of parts and products of the human body and for screening procedures.
6. Patients who are asked to participate in biomedical research must be informed of the expected benefits and foreseeable risks. Their consent must be given in writing. Their refusal will not have any effect on the quality of care they receive.
7. Unless otherwise provided by law, hospitalised patients can leave the establishment at any time after being informed of any risks they may incur.
8. Hospitalized patients must be treated with consideration. Their beliefs must be respected. They must be ensured privacy and peace and quiet.
9. Respect of privacy must be guaranteed to every patient, as well as the confidentiality of personal, administrative, medical and social information concerning them.
10. Hospitalized patients (or their legal representatives) shall have direct access to health information concerning them. Under certain conditions, in the event of death, their beneficiaries shall have the same right.
11. Hospitalized patients may express their views on the quality of care and reception provided. In each institution, a commission for relations with users and quality of care shall ensure that the rights of users are respected. Every patient has the right to be heard by a manager of the institution, to express their grievances and request compensation for harm to which they believe they have been subjected, within the context of an amicable settlement procedure for disputes and/or before the courts.

Circular no. DHOS/E1/DGS/SD1B/SD1C/SD4A/2006/90 of March 2, 2006 relative to the rights of hospitalised patients and including a hospitalised patients’ charter.

The full French version may be obtained free of charge upon request from the hospital’s reception desk and is available for downloading.

Download the Charter for the Hospitalized Person here 
 

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