Your doctor or health care provider is doing a service, just like the person who installs your telephone or fixes your car. The only difference is they have experience and expertise in dealing with health issues.

Your doctor or other health care provider should:

listen carefully to everything you say and answer your questions.

be hopeful and encouraging.

plan your treatment based on what you want and need.

teach you how to help yourself.

know about and be willing to try new or different ways of helping you feel better.

be willing to talk with other health care professionals, your family members, and friends, about your problems and what can be done about them, if you want them to.

In addition to the personal rights described earlier, your health care rights also include the right to-

decide for yourself which treatments are acceptable to you and which are not.

a second opinion without being penalized.

change health care providers—although this right may be limited by some health care plans.

have the person or people of your choice be with you when you are seeing your doctor or other health care provider.