Your rights when receiving a health or disability service
1. Respect
You should always be treated with respect. This includes respect for your culture, values and beliefs, as well as your right to personal privacy.
2. Fair treatment
No-one should discriminate against you, pressure you into something you do not want or take advantage of you in any way.
3. Dignity and independence
Services should support you to live a dignified, independent life.
4. Proper standards
You have the right to be treated with care and skill, and to receive services that reflect your needs. All those involved in your care should work together for you.
5. Communications
You have the right to be listened to, understood and receive information in whatever way you need. When it is necessary and practicable an interpreter should be available.
6. Information
You have the right to have your condition explained and be told what your choices are. This includes how long you may have to wait, an estimate of any costs and likely benefits and side effects. You can ask any questions to help you be fully informed.
7. It's your decision
It's up to you to decide. You can say no or change your mind at any time.
8. Support
You have the right to have someone with you to give your support in most circumstances.
9. Teaching and research
All these rights also apply when taking part in teaching and research.
10. Complaints
It is okay to complain—your complaints help improve services. It must be easy for you to make a complaint, and it should not have an adverse effect on the way you are treated.
This is an outline of the rights guaranteed by the law known as the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights
They apply to all health and disability services, whether you pay for them or not. A full copy of the Code of Rights is available from your provider, the Health and Disability Commissioner or Bennetts Government Bookshop.
If you need help, ask the person or organisation providing service. Local advocacy services and the Health and Disability Commissioner can be reached on:
Auckland (09) 373 1060,
Wellington (04) 494 7900
all other areas 0800 11 22 33.
The role of an advocate
Independent advocates assist people to make sure that their rights are respected. This service is free to everyone. Advocacy services operate independently of government agencies, the Commissioner, providers and funders of health and disability services. A primary goal of advocates is to assist people to resolve complaints about the quality of a health or disability service directly with the service provider.
Advocates are not investigators, and they do not make decisions on whether there has been a breach of the code. Nor are they mediators. Their role is to support people in reaching clear decisions and taking action as a result of those decisions, with the aim of resolving complaints. Advocates work using the empowerment model, where people are supported and encouraged to take action to resolve their concerns with providers. Where necessary, they will act for a person on his or her instructions.
In summary, advocates:
- support people to resolve complaints between parties
- give information about rights
- give information about the various ways to make a complaint, including how to contact the Health and Disability Commissioner
Your local advocacy service can be reached on:
0800 42 36 38.
Source: Health and Disability Commissioner
Your rights: Ou tika mo to whiwhinga ratonga hauora, hauatanga ranei
1. Mana
E tika ana kia tiakina tou ake mana tangata, ahakoa ko wai koe, no hea koe.
2. Manaakitanga
Kaua tetahi e whakararu i a koe mo ou whakaaro, whakahau ranei i a koe ki te mahi kore e pai ki a koe.
3. Tu Rangatira Motuhake
Ma nga ratenga e tu rangatira motuhake ai koe.
4. Tautikanga
Ko te tikanga kia matatau nga pukenga manaaki, tiaki i a koe, kia mahi tahi te katea hei painga mou.
5. Whakawhitiwhitinga Whakaaro
Ma te whakarongo kia marama, me te tuku mohiotanga whanui ka tau pai ou whakaritenga. Ki te hiahiatia kia whakamaramatia ki tetahi atu reo e ahei noa atu.
6. Whakamohio
E tika ana kia whakamaramatia nga ahuatanga katoa o tou mauiuitanga me nga kowhiritanga mou, tae atu ki te wa tatari, te utu, nga kaitiaki, nga painga me nga poraruraru. Uia nga patai kia mohio ai koe.
7. Whakaritenga Mou Ake
Kei a koe tou ake tikanga, te whakaae, te hakakahore ranei.
8. Tauteko
I te nuinga o te wa e ahei ana kia whai kaitautoko koe.
9. Ako Me Te Rangahau
E hangai ana te katoa o enei tika ki nga mahi ako me te rangahau.
10. Amuamu
E pai noa atu te amuamu. Ma te amuamu ka pai ake nga ratenga. Me mama te huarahi tuku amuamu kia kaua koe e tukinotia mo to tuku amuamu.
Koia tenei te whakarapopototanga o te 'Ture Tiaki i Ou Tika' i raro i te mana o te Teihau Hauora, Hauatanga. E whai mana ana enei tika ki nga ratenga Hauora, Hauatanga katoa, ahakoa utu, kore utu. Kei nga kaimahi-a-rohe o te ratonga Hauora, Hauatanga te 'Ture Tiaki I Ou Tika'. Hei awhina i a koe pataia nga kaimahi Hauora, Hauatanga.
Kei kona nga kaitautoko-a-rohe ki te awhina, whakapa atu ranei ki te Toihau Hauora, Hauatanga i te nama waea.
Auckland (09) 373 3556,
Wellington (04) 495 6669,
Other Areas 0800 1122 33.