Your Patient Rights 

When you become our patient, you become a partner in your healthcare plan. As our partner you have certain rights and responsibilities. We respect your rights, and we want to make sure you have all the tools you need to communicate your wishes openly and effectively.  

This section provides a full explanation of your rights: 

Patient's Rights 

  • The patient has the right to have his/her rights respected, protected and promoted by the hospital. 

  • The patient has the right to receive written information in a manner that he/she understands. 

  • The patient has the right to be involved in decisions about his/her care, treatment, and services provided. 

  • The patient has the right to receive information necessary to give or withhold informed consent. 

  • The patient has the right to receive information necessary to give or withhold informed consent to produce or use recordings, films or other images of the patient for purposes other than his/her care. 

  • The patient has the right to be protected and to have his/her rights respected during his/her participation in research and clinical trials. 

  • The patient has the right to receive adequate information about the person(s) responsible for, as well as those providing his/her care, treatment, and services. 

  • The patient has the right to have his/her decisions regarding care, treatment and services at end of life addressed by the hospital. 

  • The patient has the right to be free from neglect; exploitation; and verbal, mental, physical, and sexual abuse. 

  • The patient has the right to an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image. 

  • The patient has the right to access protective and advocacy services. 

  • The patient has the right to receive visitors designated by the patient, including but not limited to a spouse, domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member or a friend. The facility will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. 

  • The patient has the right to be informed of his or her visitation rights, including any clinical restrictions or limitations on such rights. 

  • The patient has the right to withdraw or deny such consent to receive visitors at any time. 

  • The patient and, when appropriate, his/her family, has the right to be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment and services, including unanticipated outcomes. 

  • The patient and his/her family have the right to voice a complaint and have it reviewed by the hospital. To speak with someone, please call our Administrative office at (843) 881-0100.  

  • In the event that the patient has a complaint that cannot be resolved by the hospital and would like to refer a complaint to a state agency, the name/ telephone number to call is SC DHEC at 1-800-922-6735.  

Patient's Rights

The patient has the right to report concerns to the accrediting agency for the hospital, which is The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission evaluates the quality and safety of care for more than 15,000 healthcare organizations. East Cooper Medical Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission encourages you to bring complaints about quality of care to the attention of East Cooper’s leadership first.  

If that does not lead to resolution, then you may wish to contact the Joint Commission at: 

Office of Quality Monitoring 
The Joint Commission   
One Renaissance Blvd.   
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181  
Fax: (630) 792-5636 Phone: (800) 994-6610  
E-mail: [email protected]    

The patient has the right to know what hospital rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient. 

Patient Responsibilities  

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for providing accurate and complete information to the best of his/her knowledge about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health. 

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for asking questions when he/she does not understand his/her care treatment, and service plan or what he/she is expected to do. 

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for following the care, treatment, and service plan developed by the practitioner.  

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for the outcomes of his/her actions if he/she refuses to follow the care, treatment and service plan. 

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations.  

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for being considerate of the hospital’s staff and property, as well as other patients and their property. 

  • The patient, and family when appropriate, is responsible for meeting any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital. 

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