Rights and Responsibilities of Unity College Students
Students have a right to considerate and compassionate care that safeguards their personal dignity and respects their values and preferences. The Unity College health program recognizes the basic human rights of patients and encourages patients to assume responsibility for their own welfare. The health service includes the following characteristics:
A. Students are treated with respect, consideration, and dignity.
B. Students are provided appropriate privacy, including protection from access to their confidential information by faculty and non-health service staff who are not responsible for direct health care, and by other students working at the health service not trained or qualified to provide care.
C. Mental health/counseling/psychotherapy services which are separate units from the health service assure that necessary personal health care information is shared between mental health/counseling/psychotherapy staff and health care professionals. The need to assure continuity of care and to protect a patient's rights to privacy and the confidentiality of provider-patient disclosures, as appropriate.
D. Student disclosures and records are treated confidentially. Students are given the authority to approve or refuse their release in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.
E. Students are provided, to the degree known, information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. When concern for a patient's health makes it inadvisable to give such information, it is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.
F. Students are given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their health care, whenever possible.
G. Information is available to students and staff concerning the following:
| 1. Policy on the rights and responsibilities of patients | |
| 2. Eligibility of patients for services, defining services covered by prepaid fees and those requiring added fees | |
| 3. Available services and how to use them | |
| 4. Provisions for after-hours and emergency care and how to use them appropriately | |
| 5. Conduct and responsibilities of patients, including the consequences of refusing treatment or not complying with therapy | |
| 6. Payment policies and fees for service, if any | |
| 7. Students' right to refuse to participate in experimental research | |
| 8. Policy on treatment of an un-emanciated minor not accompanied by an adult, consistent with applicable federal and state regulations | |
H. Students have a right to competent, humane treatment, with respect for their opinions and beliefs in the process of receiving health care.
I. Students are informed of their right to change primary or specialty health care providers if other qualified health care providers are available.
J. Students have the right not to be misled by marketing or advertising regarding the competence and capabilities of the college health service.
K. Students are responsible to give the health care provider complete and full information on their health status and to cooperate in treatment planning and follow-up. Responsibilities include asking questions of the health care providers, making use of available information and education concerning their own health, and showing the same respect for the health care personnel as they expect to receive.
The information contained within this web page is adapted with permission from the American College Health Association.