Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Extract from Chapter II – Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, promulgated on 9 January 2023.

Table of Contents

I. Patient Rights

1. Right to medical examination and treatment

Patients have the right to be informed and explained about their health conditions, methods, and services for medical examination and treatment, service fees, and guidance on self-monitoring, care, and prevention of complications.
Patients are entitled to receive medical examination and treatment using safe methods suitable to their illness, health conditions, and the actual conditions of the medical facility.

2. Right to respect for dignity, health protection, and privacy during medical examination and treatment

Patients have the right to respect regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, health condition, economic status, or social position.
Patients’ medical records and other private information provided to Hoan My Gold Ky Dong Medical Centre during the medical examination and treatment process must remain confidential, except where patients consent to share such information as per the law or in cases of accessing medical records for ongoing or completed treatment stored in archives.
Patients must not be subjected to discrimination, mistreatment, physical abuse, or sexual harassment during medical examination and treatment.
Patients must not be coerced into undergoing medical examination or treatment, except in cases of compulsory treatment as specified in Clause 1, Article 82 of this Law.

3. Right to choose in medical examination and treatment

Patients can choose the method of medical examination and treatment after being fully informed, explained, and advised on their health condition, potential results, and associated risks, except where the requested method does not comply with professional technical regulations.
Patients can accept or refuse participation in biomedical research related to medical examination and treatment.

4. Right to access information about medical records and costs

Patients have the right to read, view, copy, or summarise their medical records as stipulated in Point d, Clause 4, Article 69 of this Law.
Patients are entitled to a detailed explanation of their medical service fees upon request.

5. Right to refuse medical examination and treatment and to leave the medical facility

Patients can refuse medical examination or treatment but must commit in writing to take responsibility for their decision after being advised by medical practitioners, except in cases of compulsory treatment as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 82 of this Law.
Patients can leave the medical facility against medical advice but must commit in writing to take responsibility for their decision, except in cases of compulsory treatment as specified in Clause 1, Article 82 of this Law.

6. Right to petition and compensation

Patients have the right to petition regarding deficiencies, obstacles, and other issues encountered during medical examination and treatment.
Patients are entitled to compensation as stipulated in Article 102 of this Law.

7. Implementation of patients’ rights in cases of incapacity, cognitive or behavioural difficulties, and minors without guardians

For adult patients who are incapacitated, have cognitive or behavioural difficulties, or are partially incapacitated, but have previously expressed their legitimate wishes regarding medical examination and treatment in writing, their wishes shall be respected and followed.
For adult patients who are incapacitated, have cognitive or behavioural difficulties, or are partially incapacitated, and have not previously expressed their legitimate wishes regarding medical examination and treatment in writing, the following shall apply:
- Decisions shall be made by their legal representative as per Points a, b, c, and d of Clause 2, Article 8 of this Law.
- If no legal representative exists, decisions shall be made by the person in charge of the medical facility or its leadership.
For minor patients, the following shall apply:
- Decisions shall be made by their legal representative as per Points c and d of Clause 2, Article 8 of this Law.
- If no legal representative exists, decisions shall be made by the person in charge of the medical facility or its leadership.

1. Obligation to respect medical practitioners and other personnel

Patients must respect medical practitioners and others working in medical facilities and must not threaten, harm, or demean their dignity or honour.

2. Obligation to comply with regulations on medical examination and treatment

Patients must provide honest information about their identity and health and cooperate fully with medical practitioners and other personnel.
Patients must comply with diagnoses and treatment methods prescribed by medical practitioners.
Patients and their visitors must adhere to the internal rules of the medical facility and legal regulations regarding medical examination and treatment.

3. Obligation to pay medical costs

Patients covered by health insurance must pay for services beyond the scope and limit of their insurance coverage as per health insurance laws.
Patients without health insurance must pay medical fees as stipulated by law.