Participation

You have a right to take an active role in your health care and to be included in decisions and choices about your care.

You have a right to participate as fully as you wish in decisions about your care and treatment. Your healthcare provider should give you all the information you need to make informed decisions, the opportunity to ask questions, and time to talk to your carers, family and friends before making decisions.

You have a right to have your family, other carers or chosen support person involved in your care. With your consent, they can also receive information and be involved in making decisions about your care with you.

You have a right to refuse treatment. However, there are circumstances in which you may be regarded as unable to give informed consent or to refuse treatment.

You have a right to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you in the event that you lose the capacity to do so. For more information, please contact the Office of the Public Advocate.

If you are a hospital patient, you have a right to be fully involved in the decision about how and when you leave hospital. Before you leave, the hospital should discuss what healthcare services you may need after you leave hospital, and refer you to them. You have a right to participate in decisions about your ongoing care. Your GP should also be involved. You may discharge yourself against your doctor’s advice, but you may be asked to sign a form accepting responsibility for this.

There are many opportunities to participate in the planning, design and evaluation of public healthcare services. Many organisations take into account consumers’ experiences and ideas about their service when making improvements. You have a right to share your views, for example by filling in surveys, joining a community advisory committee, writing letters or telling staff about your experience. Both negative and positive feedback is useful.

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