Rights & responsibilities

Our health care services are provided in partnership with staff and consumers working together to achieve optimal care.
As a consumer of health care services, you need to know what to expect from Pakenham Medical Clinic, our services and staff. It is also important for you to understand what your responsibilities are when receiving these services.

The doctor patient partnership is based on mutual respect. Both patients and doctors have rights as well as responsibilities. If you have any concerns about your care or feel that your rights have not been respected, please let us know. Timely feedback helps us.

Your rights as a patient are:

To receive care without regard to your race, colour, religion, age, gender or lifestyle.
To be seen in a timely manner for your health concerns
Whenever possible, to select your own doctor and to be seen by a doctor if the problem is urgent.
To request and receive quality care that is consistent with sound nursing and medical practices.
To be informed of the nature of your illness and treatment options, including potential risks, alternatives and costs of any test or treatment, and to participate in your healthcare decisions.
To receive a second opinion.
To expect that all staff will communicate with you in a manner you can understand.
To accept or refuse recommended tests or treatments and to be informed of the medical consequences of your choices.
To request and receive information regarding the charges for any treatment.
You have the right to privacy concerning your health care.

Your responsibilities as a patient are:

To give your doctor, other staff members and other patients respect and consideration.
You have a responsibility to notify your doctor if you have chosen other advice on your management.
To come on time to your appointment.
To see another doctor if your doctor of choice is booked out or not available.
To request a long appointment if you have a very complex problem or a number of issues to deal with. Each family member should have a separate appointment.
To be reviewed by your doctor if you experience a significant change in your symptoms, or if symptoms do not resolve or you experience an adverse effect of your treatment.
To notify your doctor if you choose not to be reviewed by a specialist or follow the specialist’s advice.
To make sure that you tell your doctor if you do not understand and to ask questions in order to clarify your understanding.
To cancel or change your appointment early enough to allow another patient to have access to a doctor
If you agree to a course of treatment, you have a responsibility to yourself and to your doctor to follow the prescribed instructions, perform advised investigations, following up test results and returning for follow-up appointments. You are responsible for the consequences of your decisions
To pay for the service you receive on the day of service
To update your contact and other personal details if they change

Patient Info