Patient Rights & Responsibilities

PATIENT RIGHTS

• You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, socioeconomic status, or any other protected characteristic.

• You have the right to receive safe, considerate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care.

• You have the right to confidentiality and privacy, except as limited by law. This includes mandatory reporting, duty to protect, court orders, or threats of harm to self or others.

• You have the right to be informed of the limits of confidentiality in clear, understandable language.

• You have the right to request access to your medical records, and to be informed if there are clinical reasons access may be limited.

• You have the right to participate actively in your treatment decisions, including:

  • treatment planning

  • medication decisions

  • therapeutic goals

  • referrals

• You have the right to informed consent prior to receiving care, including:

  • risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment

  • expected outcomes

  • right to refuse or withdraw consent at any time

• You have the right to refuse treatment, unless limited by emergency or safety circumstances permitted by law.

• You have the right to file complaints, concerns, or grievances without retaliation, interference, or change in quality of care.

• You have the right to request reasonable accommodations for communication or access needs (e.g., language services, accessibility supports).

• You have the right to request a second opinion regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

• You have the right to know the name, credentials, and role of the clinician providing your care.

• You have the right to discontinue services at any time, unless a safety or emergency crisis requires provider intervention consistent with state and federal regulations.

• You have the right to compassionate, ethical, and non-exploitive care at all times.

Patient Responsibilities

• You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information about:

  • health history

  • medications

  • hospitalizations

  • substance use

  • mental health symptoms and concerns

• You are responsible for notifying your clinician of any significant changes in symptoms, functioning, medication effects, or safety concerns.

• You are responsible for asking questions if you do not understand treatment recommendations, instructions, or consent documents.

• You are responsible for participating collaboratively in treatment planning.

• You are responsible for keeping appointments, arriving on time, and communicating cancellations according to clinic policy.

• You are responsible for the financial obligations of your care, including:

  • copayments

  • self-pay balances

  • deductibles

  • missed appointment fees when applicable

• You are responsible for using communication channels appropriately and respectfully.

• You are responsible for maintaining safety for yourself and others during treatment, whether in-person or via telehealth.

• You are responsible for informing your provider if you are physically located in a different state during telehealth sessions, as licensure laws may determine where services can legally be provided.

• You are responsible for treating staff and other clients with respect and refraining from abusive, threatening, or discriminatory behavior.

• You are responsible for respecting the physical property of Mental Health of the Rockies and others.