Pediatric Patient Rights and Responsibilities

In addition to the rights and responsibilities of adult patients, children/adolescents and their parents/guardians shall have the following rights and responsibilities.

Pediatric Patient Rights

Hillcrest Health System recognizes:
A minor receiving treatment has the right to:

• appropriate treatment in the least restrictive setting available;
  
• not receive unnecessary or excessive medication;
  
• an individualized treatment plan, and to participate in the development of the plan;
  
• a humane treatment environment that provides reasonable protection from harm and appropriate privacy for personal needs;
  
• separation from adult patients; and
  
• regular communication with your family, subject only to restriction as provided by medical necessity or applicable law.
  
  A minor receiving treatment has the right to:
  

• respect for:
  
  • each child and adolescent as a unique individual; and
    
  • the care-taking role and individual response of each parent.
    
• provision for normal physical and physiological needs of a growing child to include nutrition, rest, sleep, warmth, activity, and freedom to move and explore.
  
• consistent, supportive, nurturing care which:
  
  • meets the emotional and psychosocial needs of the child; and 
    
  • fosters open communication.
    
• provision for self-esteem which will be met by attempts to give the child:
  
  • the reassuring presence of a caring person, especially a parent;
    
  • freedom to express feelings or fears with appropriate reactions;
    
  • as much control as possible, over both self and situation;
    
  • opportunities to work through experiences before and after they occur, verbally, in play, or in other appropriate ways; and
    
  • recognition and reward for coping well during difficult situations.
    
• provision for varied and normal stimuli of life which contribute to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical developmental needs, including:
  
  • play, educational, and social activities essential to all children and adolescents;
    
  • information about what to expect prior to, during, and following procedures/experiences and support in coping with it;
    
  • participation of children/families in decisions affecting their own medical treatment; and
    
  • minimization of hospital stay duration by recognizing discharge planning needs. 
  
  
  Family Responsibilities
  
  Parents/Guardians/Family* shall have the responsibility for:
  
• continuing their parenting role to the extent of their ability;
  
• being available to participate in decision-making; and
  
• providing staff with knowledge of their whereabouts.
  
  *The Family consists of those individuals responsible for physical and emotional care of the child on a continuous basis regardless of whether they are related.