Final answer:
Patients' rights to medical records are upheld by laws and international declarations, aiming to balance treatment costs, quality of life, and privacy. Policies must address confidentiality, reduce privacy risks, and improve patient care while maintaining the patient’s dignity and requiring informed consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients have specific rights concerning their medical records. These rights are essential for maintaining the balance of treatment costs, ensuring the quality of life, and upholding privacy standards. When creating policies, three crucial questions arise:
- How will the policy ensure confidentiality while still allowing for necessary treatments and diagnoses?
- What measures will be taken to minimize risks to privacy, particularly with the sharing of digital records?
- In what ways will the policy enhance the patient’s quality of life through effective use of their medical records?
The importance of privacy in health records is acknowledged by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is legally reinforced by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires confidentiality of patient records. Even under the Freedom of Information Act, there are exceptions such as medical records for government employees, acknowledging the sensitive nature of health information.The rights concerning medical records include, but are not limited to, seeking informed consent before any sharing of information, protecting subjects from harm, preserving confidentiality, and respecting the privacy and dignity of the patient.
CORRRECT QUESTION:
Outline patient's rights to medical record.