Public >> Statement of Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Statement of Patient Rights & Responsibilities

PATIENT RIGHTS

You are entitled to:

  • A copy of these rights and your health records
  • Confidentiality of your health records
  • Timely response to your requests, concerns, or complaints
  • Know the name of the faculty member, resident, and/or student in charge of your care
  • Receive care without regard to your race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex
  • Access to free communication aids and services to help you and staff or providers communicate effectively. FREE language services include qualified sign language interpreters and written information in other formats (e.g., large print, accessible electronic documents, etc.)

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide your complete and accurate health history
  • Ask questions and that help you understand your treatment plan
  • Arrive on-time for your appointments and notify us prior to cancellations
  • Pay for your treatment at the time of service
  • Respect the rights, property, and privacy of others 

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE YOU AS A PATIENT IF YOU

  • Are unable to finance a reasonable plan for oral health care, or you are unwilling to agree to our terms for payment for services
  • Will not agree to the terms of our General Informed Consent form
  • Are unwilling or unable follow our recommended treatment plan or clinic procedures

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISMISS YOU AS A PATIENT IF

  • You miss three scheduled appointments over a 12-month period with less than 24 hours’ notice. Being late 15 minutes or more is considered a failed appointment
  • You exhibit unsafe or disruptive behavior that interferes with the effective delivery of care to you or other patients or interferes with the learning environment within the Dental School
  • You (or the responsible third party) fail to pay for treatment
  • Your behavior results in an irreparable breakdown of the dentist-patient relationship

The decision to dismiss a patient is a serious matter and is made only after a careful review procedure. If you are dismissed, you will be given 30 days’ notice of this decision to allow you time to transition your care to another provider.

If you need language services, contact the TUSDM Patient Relations Office at 617-636-3900 or patientrelations@tufts.edu. If you believe that TUSDM has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you may file a grievance anonymously through EthicsPoint, Inc.