2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 132 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the Patient (§§ 3041 — 3058) › § 3051 - Responsibilities of patients, consumers, or users of medical and hospital health care services and facilities

The vital nature of health care services calls for patients, consumers, or users of medical and hospital health care facilities, and their guardians and relatives, to participate in their care. However, patient satisfaction and health care effectiveness is partially contingent upon the patients’ adequate fulfillment of their responsibilities. These responsibilities are, among others:
(a) Patients are responsible for providing, to the best of their knowledge, complete and accurate information regarding their present health condition, past illnesses, medications, hospitalizations, and other related matters.
(b) Patients are responsible for reporting unexpected changes in their condition to the health care professional in charge of their treatment.
(c) Patients are responsible for informing that they clearly understand the course of action expected from them.
(d) Patients are responsible for providing copies of their written instructions or guidelines, if any, in advance, stating their wishes concerning future medical treatment to extend their lives.
(e) Patients are responsible for informing their health care professionals if they foresee any problems with the prescribed treatment.
(f) Patients are responsible, as members of the community, for knowing that providers are under the obligation to be efficient and fair in providing care for other patients.
(g) Patients and their relatives are responsible for making reasonable arrangements in order for the demands on the hospital, the medical staff, or other employees, or the needs of other patients not to be burdened for the actions of the patients or their relatives.
(h) Patients are responsible for furnishing the necessary health plan information and for collaborating with their providers concerning their respective financial arrangements when necessary for the timely payment of all accounts and bills being remitted to patients.
(i) Patients are responsible for being aware of the effect their lifestyle has on their health and for assuming the initial responsibility for their own health and care. Patients themselves shall assume the responsibility for preserving their health and for looking after their relatives.
(j) Patients are responsible for participating in all decisions concerning their care.
(k) Patients are responsible for reporting to the pertinent authorities any fraud or improper action they are aware of concerning medical and hospital health care services and facilities.
(l) Patients are responsible for employing the internal mechanisms and procedures established by health care providers or health plans to settle their differences.
[(m) Patients are responsible for recognizing the risks and limits of medicine and the fallibility of the health professional.]
[(n)] Patients are responsible for being well-informed concerning their health plan in terms of their coverage, options, benefits, limitations, exclusions, and referrals, as well as procedures for filing, reviewing, and settling complaints.
[(o)] Patients are responsible for observing administrative and operating procedures set forth by their health plans and their health care service providers, and by government health benefit programs.
(p) Guardians shall acquire all the responsibilities of patients-wards conferred by this section.
The responsibilities of patients set forth in this section shall be construed according to each specific case, considering the education and social and financial status of the patient, in benefit of the patient; these responsibilities shall not be construed to be a limitation on the exercise of the powers conferred under § 3056 of this title.
History —Aug. 25, 2000, No. 194, § 13; Dec. 16, 2009, No. 176, § 8.