Right to be respected.
Every person is a unique individual who is responsible for their own health (except if they have diminished capacity and are unable to act on their own behalf).
Each person´s care should be tailored to their particular needs.
Each person has a right to privacy and to information about their health status and options.
Right to be informed.
Patients have the right to make decisions based on adequate information regarding their care and treatment.
Right to participate, or not to participate.
Patients have the right to refuse treatment; they may refuse all treatment or give limited consent to specific treatment(s).
They are entitled to refuse care even if the refusal is considered to be contrary to their best interests; exceptions to this general statement occur if the patient threatens harm to others (i.e., certain infectious diseases).
Right to equal access to health care.
Every citizen has the right to equal access to comprehensive "basic" health care.
Briggs M et al. A handbook of healthcare ethics and institutional ethics for staff in healthcare institutions. Edmonton. The Bioethics Centre. 1994. pp. A:13-15.