Privacy, Confidentiality, and Patient Rights and Responsibilities

With the exceptions outlined in the UHS Notice of Privacy Practices (see Related Links), UHS cannot disclose your medical information to any individual, organization, or facility—including other campus departments, faculty, or staff—unless you give your written permission for us to do so.

This means we cannot tell your roommate, a professor, or even a family member about your appointments, calls to the Nurse Advice Line, or consultations with staff in our Health Promotion Resource Center.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that we make all UHS patients aware of our Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to your medical information. Click UHS Notice of Privacy Practices in Related Links for details.

In some instances, if you are under age 18 and the law requires that your parents/guardians give their consent for your medical treatment, your parents may request information about your care. However, most UT students under age 18 are in situations that legally allow them to give their own consent for medical treatment. For a list of situations in which those under 18 can consent for themselves, click Consent by Minor to Own Treatment in Related Links.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient of UHS or any other healthcare facility you have certain rights, including rights to privacy, respect, professionalism, and competent medical care. You also carry certain responsibilities to help optimize the care you receive.

Patient Bill of Rights

Patients have the right to be treated with respect, consideration, and dignity.

Patients have the right to be provided with appropriate privacy.

Patients have the right to the degree known, to have complete information concerning their diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and prognosis.

Patients are given the right to participate in decisions involving their health care, except when such participation is contraindicated for medical reasons.

Patients have the right to refuse to participate in experimental research.

Patients have the right to change practitioners.

Patients have the right to make suggestions and express grievances; to receive a personal response to same, if so requested; and to have continued access to care without intimidation, threat, coercion, discrimination, and other retaliatory action. No person will be asked to waive his or her rights, including the right to file a complaint regarding privacy with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as a condition of treatment.

Patients have the right to information on the following: patient conduct and responsibilities, services available at UHS, provisions for after-hours and emergency care, fees for services, payment policies, advance directives as required by state or federal law and regulations, provider credentialing, and accurate information regarding the competence and capabilities of the organization.

Patients have the right under HIPAA Privacy Rules to the following: to respect limitations on their medical information, to confidential communications, to inspect and request a copy of their medical information, to request amendment for their medical information, to request accounting disclosures, and to a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Patient Responsibilities

Patients have the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information about current and past illnesses, medications, and other matters pertaining to their health.

Patients have the responsibility to follow the treatment plan recommended by their practitioner or express concerns regarding their ability to comply.

Patients are responsible for their actions if they refuse treatment or do not follow the practitioner's instructions.

Patients have the responsibility to arrive as scheduled for appointments and to cancel in advance appointments they cannot keep.

Patients have the responsibility to become informed of the scope of basic services offered, the costs, and the necessity for medical insurance, and to actively seek clarification of any aspect of participation in UHS services and programs (including cost) that is not understood.