Patient Rights Charter
International Patient Rights are among the most important issues that health tourism stakeholders are required to uphold. Many of these regulations are common in the destination countries for health tourists. In this section, we examine the laws and rights of international patients in Iran.
Right to Access Information
Every patient has the right to receive sufficient and complete information about the nature of their illness, its cause, provisional or confirmed diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and potential complications in a language fully understandable to them.
Right to Access Medical Records, Documents, and Reports
The patient or their companion has the right to access the original or a copy of the medical records, patient history, and treatment reports during the hospitalization period, within 24 to 72 hours after discharge.
Right to Protection for Patients Undergoing Clinical Trials
Every patient has the right to receive appropriate care. All clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with protocols and guidelines issued by the relevant authorities.
Right to Protection for Patients Required to Participate in Clinical Trials
Patient participation in clinical trials must always be based on informed consent and after receiving all relevant information. The patient must be provided with a signed copy of the informed consent form, containing the initial records and information about the clinical trial.
The patient’s right to consent to or refuse participation in a clinical trial must be respected, and refusal shall not affect their routine care. The patient has the right to be informed in writing about the name of the drug or medical interventions, along with the date, dosage, and duration of administration during the trial period.
Throughout the trial, the patient’s privacy in the trial sessions must be maintained, and any information collected from them must be kept confidential. If the patient experiences any adverse effects during the clinical trial, they have the right to receive medical supervision, regardless of whether the effects are related to the trial, until it is determined that the harm is unrelated to the clinical trial.
Furthermore, financial or other forms of assistance must be provided to compensate for damages or disabilities. In the event of death, the patient’s relatives have the right to compensation. Institutional mechanisms should be established to cover disease-related or unrelated care (ancillary care) and to provide compensation through the relevant ethics committee.After the trial, the patient must be ensured access to the best possible treatment methods.
- Right to Emergency Medical Care
Right to Informed Consent:
Every patient has the right to fully and consciously complete informed consent forms prior to any potentially high-risk test or treatment (e.g., invasive procedures, surgery, chemotherapy) that carries specific risks. Consent forms must be provided to patients in accordance with proper protocols and in a language they understand, making the process of obtaining informed consent mandatory.
Right to Confidentiality, Human Dignity, and Privacy:
All patients have the right to privacy, and healthcare providers are obligated to keep all information regarding the patient’s health status and treatment plan confidential, except in special circumstances for the benefit or protection of the patient or others, or due to public health considerations.
Right to a Second Opinion:
Every patient has the right to request a second opinion from a specialist of their choice. The hospital administration is obliged to respect this right and provide the patient’s companions with all necessary records and information without any additional cost or delay.
Right to Transparency in Fees and Care According to Established Rates:
Every patient and their companions have the right to receive complete information regarding the fees charged by the hospital for each type of service provided and the available facilities. They also have the right to receive detailed information on all items at the time of billing.
Right to Choose Alternative Treatment Options
Patients and their companions have the right to choose among alternative treatment options after considering all aspects of their current condition. This includes situations in which the patient, having evaluated all available options and accepting responsibility for the consequences, chooses to decline care. If a patient leaves the healthcare facility against medical advice (despite potential impacts on their treatment and health condition), this personal decision shall not affect the observance of the various rights outlined in this charter.
Right to Choose the Provider for Medication or Diagnostic Tests
In the event of any medication being prescribed by the physician or hospital, the patient or their companion has the right to choose a licensed and accredited pharmacy. Similarly, when a physician recommends diagnostic procedures, the patient and their companion have the right to receive the requested diagnostic services from any registered center or laboratory with national accreditation.
Right to Appropriate Referral and Transfer, Free from Undue Influence
A patient has the right to continuity of care and to be properly admitted at the first healthcare facility or any other location where they seek treatment. When being transferred from one healthcare facility to another, the patient or their companion must receive a full explanation of the reason for the transfer and any alternative options, and must be assured that all necessary procedures for transfer and admission at the new facility have been completed.