On the web today, you can find various proclamations and bills of rights about women’s health. Below is a bill of rights by Dr. Carolyn Demarco from Take Charge of Your Body – Women’s Health Advisor.  This bill of rights stands apart from others because it addresses issues important to women struggling with infertility, sexual dysfunction, and pain. In the upcoming weeks, I will share patient stories, studies, and personal experiences at CPT that highlight the importance of each of these rights. To read these stories, please click on any of the links below.

1. I have a right to be treated as an equal human being.
2. I have a right to be listened to and have my problems taken seriously.
3. I have a right to an explanation that I can understand in my native language (using a translator if necessary) on any questions concerning my health care.
4. I have a right to know the choices I face in getting treated for any health problem and to have the possible side effects of any drugs or surgical treatment clearly explained.
5. I have a right to choose the types of treatment I prefer from among the options offered to me by my doctor.
6. I have a right for normal events in my life, such as pregnancy and menopause, not to be treated as diseases requiring treatment.
7. I have a right to choose natural therapies and not be ridiculed for doing so.
8. I have a right to request a second opinion on any major surgery or health decision.
9. I have a right to refuse any drug or surgical treatment.
10. I have a responsibility to become knowledgeable about my body and how it works.
11. I have a responsibility to learn as much as possible about my health problems so I can make informed choices.
12. I have a responsibility to look after my diet, reduce stress, exercise, and relax on a regular basis.
13. I have a responsibility to avoid pressuring my doctor into giving me drugs when I don’t need them.
14. I have a responsibility to prepare my questions for my doctor beforehand and schedule adequate appointment time to discuss them.
15. I am ultimately responsible for my own health care, using my doctor as a resource rather than an authority.

Tags: health rights

This entry was posted on Monday, December 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am and is filed under Recent Posts . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.