THE HEALTH CONSUMER'S CODE OF CONDUCT

Consumerism and “rights talk” have transformed our society. This change is no more evident than in the doctor–patient relationship, which has developed from a largely paternalistic association into a partnership respecting the autonomy and rights of the patient.

These rights include the right to full information and to make informed decisions; the right to determine or refuse treatments; and the rights to confidentiality, courtesy, respect and responsive services.

But has consumerism swung the rights pendulum too far? Carolyn Wilson, a Canadian legal scholar, in her essay, Seeking a balance: patient responsibilities in institutional health care, notes that “Rights talk for patients is alive and well . . .”, but “duties talk is sadly missing, especially when it comes to their application to patients.”

With patient autonomy come patient responsibilities. Logically, these should be at the core of a health consumer’s code of conduct. Patient responsibilities, as advanced by Wilson, include

• maintaining a healthy lifestyle;

• being honest in disclosing health information and medications being taken;

• compliance with agreed therapy and follow-up;

• taking responsibility for decisions about and the consequences of non-compliance;

• raising doubts and asking questions;

• and maintaining a stable and long term association with the treating doctor.

For too long the rights talk of health consumerism has concentrated on the consumer, and it is time for a new focus. We should recognise patients’ responsibilities as well as their rights.