Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities

Introduction

Icon is committed to providing personalised healthcare to every patient. We respect the rights of all our patients, and in return you fulfil your responsibilities.

Patients’ Rights

The right to receive information

  • To know the details of your illness, including diagnosis, progress, investigations, method, plan and effectiveness of treatment.
  • Receive appropriate and professional healthcare regardless of your age, gender, race, religion, nationality, social status and physical or mental disabilities.
  • To know medical charges or fees in advance.
  • To know the purposes and common complications of any treatment procedures or investigations before giving consent to these procedures.
  • To be told if something has gone wrong during your healthcare, how it happened and how it may affect you.
  • To obtain information concerning your illness or details of your health record in the form of a medical report or summary.

The right to decide medical treatment

  • To seek a second medical opinion.
  • To accept or refuse any medical advice from doctors.
  • To decide whether or not to participate in medical research.

The right to privacy and confidentiality

  • To have privacy and confidentiality regarding medical information as required by law.
  • To have your medical records kept in a safe and protected environment.
  • To have your medical information accessed only by those involved in your care and those monitoring the quality of services. All information regarding your care will be kept confidential.
  • Learn more about The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) protecting your personal data while enabling organisations to use your data reasonably to service and care for you by clicking here.

The right to provide feedback

  • To provide feedback related to your care or treatment.
  • To provide feedback related to the environment or to Icon Singapore.

Mutual Responsibilities of Patient and Doctor

Successful medical care requires ongoing collaboration between patients and doctors. This partnership requires both individuals to take an active role in the treatment process.

Autonomous, competent patients control the decisions that direct their healthcare. With that exercise of self-governance and choice comes responsibilities. Patients contribute to the collaborative effort when they:

  • Are truthful and forthcoming with their physicians and strive to express their concerns clearly. Doctors likewise should encourage patients to raise questions or concerns.
  • Provide as complete a medical history as they can, including providing information about past illnesses, medications, hospitalisations, family history of illness, and other matters relating to present health.
  • Cooperate with agreed-on treatment plans. Since adhering to treatment is often essential to public and individual safety, patients should disclose whether they have or have not followed the agreed-on plan and indicate when or if they would like to reconsider the plan.
  • Accept care from staff in training under appropriate supervision. Participation in clinical education is to the mutual benefit of patients and the healthcare system; nonetheless, patients (or surrogates) refusal of care by a trainee should be respected in keeping with ethics guidance.
  • Meet their financial responsibilities with regard to medical care or discuss financial hardships with their doctors.
  • Recognise that a healthy lifestyle can often prevent or mitigate illness and take responsibility to follow preventive measures and adopt health-enhancing behaviours.
  • Be aware of and refrain from behaviour that unreasonably places the health of others at risk. They should ask about what they can do to prevent transmission of infectious disease.
  • Refrain from being disruptive in the clinical setting and be considerate to and respect the rights of other patients and staff.
  • Not knowingly initiate or participate in medical fraud.
  • Report illegal or unethical behaviour by doctors or other health care professionals to the appropriate medical societies, licensing boards, or law enforcement authorities.

Privacy of Patients and Clinic Staff

For the privacy of our patients and clinic staff, photography and video recording are not allowed in our centres.

Search