Patients have the right to receive information about their care and to have questions answered honestly. Patients, within the context of their primary relationships, are the principle decision-makers concerning their own health care. The process by which a competent patient agrees to or refuses medical intervention is called informed consent. In order to make truly informed decisions about care, patients also need the freedom to explore feelings and spiritual needs in an environment that shows respect for their ethnic, cultural or religious values. Patients have a right to expect that the confidentiality of their health care history will be respected by their care givers and health care institutions to the extent provided by law.
Confidentiality applies to communications and medical records.
In those rare instances when a physician believes that a patient's refusal to divulge information to a third party puts that party at risk for serious harm, the physician should seek legal advice to determine if the sharing of information with that party, even without the consent of the patient, is legally permissible or required. Patients have the responsibility to communicate their medical history and treatment goals, stressors, fears, and needs as completely and accurately as possible. Patients are responsible for voicing their concerns about treatment goals or procedures and informing their physicians if they cannot or will not follow a treatment plan. Patients who choose not to execute such decisions should be aware of the surrogate law in Oregon so that they will know who, in the absence of an advance directive or health care representative, will be making their care decisions for them. Patients facing the end of their life especially should have access to a compassionate, knowledgeable, interdisciplinary team that is committed to understanding their needs.