Legal Issues


A group of friends from Aer Lingus Ireland who attended the official Dedication Ceremony on Sept. 9th, 1997.


 

Patient Bill of Rights

As a patient, you have the right, consistent with law, to:


 

Patient Responsibilities

Each patient has the responsibility to:


 

New York State's Proxy Law

A new law called the New York health care proxy law allows you to appoint someone you trust-- for example, a family member or close friend-- to decide about treatment if you lose the ability to decide for yourself. You can do this by using a Health Care Proxy form to appoint your "health care agent."

This law gives you the power to make sure that health care professionals follow your wishes. Your agent can also decide how your wishes apply as your medical condition changes. Hospitals, doctors and other health care providers must follow your agent's decisions as if they were your own.

You can give the person you select, your health care agent, as little or as much authority as you want. You can allow your agent to decide about all health care, or only certain treatments. You may also give your agent instructions that he or she has to follow.

A few commonly asked questions:

 

Why should I choose a health care agent?

If you become too sick to make health care decisions, someone else must decide for you. Health care professionals often look to family members for guidance. But family members are not allowed to decide to stop treatment, even when they believe that is what you would choose or what is best for you under the circumstances. Appointing an agent lets you control your medical treatment by:

How can I appoint a health care agent?

All competent adults can appoint a health care agent by signing a form called a Health Care Proxy. You don't need a lawyer, just two adult witnesses.

When would my health care agent begin to make treatment decisions for me?

Your health care agent would begin to make treatment decisions after doctors decide that you are not able to make health care decisions. As long as you are able to make decisions for yourself, you will have the right to do so.

What decisions can my health care agent make?

Unless you limit your health care agent's authority, your agent will be able to make any treatment decision that you could have made if you were able to decide for yourself. Your agent can agree that you should receive treatment, choose among different treatments and decide that treatments should not be provided, in accordance with your wishes and interests. If your health care agent is not aware of your wishes about artificial nutrition and hydration (nourishment and water provided by feeding tubes), he or she will not be able to make decisions about these measures. Artificial nutrition and hydration are used in many circumstances, and are often used to continue the life of patients who are in a permanent coma.

How will my health care agent make decisions?

You can write instuctions on the proxy form. Your agent must follow your oral and written instructions, as well as your moral and religious beliefs. If your agent does not know your wishes or beliefs, your agent is legally required to act in your best interests.

Who will pay attention to my agent?

All hospitals, doctors and other health care facilities are legally required to honor the decisions by your agent. If a hospital objects to some treatment options (such as removing certain treatment) they must tell you or your agent IN ADVANCE.

What if my health care agent is not available when decisions must be made?

You can appoint an alternate agent to decide for you if your health care agent is not available or able to act when decisions must be made. Otherwise, health care providers will make treatment decisions for you that follow instructions you gave while you were still able to do so. Any instuctions that you write on your Health Care Proxy form will guide health care providers under these circumstances.

What if I change my mind?

It is easy to cancel the proxy, to change the person you have chosen as your health care agent, or to change any treatment instructions you have written on your Health Care Proxy form. Just fill out a new form. In addition, you can require that the HealthCare Proxy expire on a specified date or if certain events occur. Otherwise, the Health Care Proxy will be valid indefinitely. If you choose your spouse as your health care agent, and you get divorced or legally separated, the appointment is automatically cancelled.

Can my health care agent be legally liable for decisions made on my behalf?

No. Your health care agent will not be liable for treatment decisions made in good faith on your behalf. Also, he or she cannot be held liable for costs of your care, just because he or she is your agent.

Is a health care proxy the same as a living will?

No. A living will is a document that provides specific instructions about health care treatment. It is generally used to declare wishes to refuse life-sustaining treatment under certain circumstances.

In contrast, the health care proxy allows you to choose someone you trust to make treatment decisions on your behalf. Unlike a living will, a health care proxy does not require that you know in advance all the decisions that may arise. Instead, your health care agent can interpret your wishes as medical circumstances change, and can make decisions you could not have known would have to be made. The health care proxy is just as useful for decisions to receive treatment as it is for decisions to stop treatment. If you complete a Health Care Proxy form, but also have a living will, the living will provides instructions for your health care agent, and will guide his or her decisions.

Where should I keep the proxy form after it is signed?

Give a copy to your agent, your doctor and any other family members or close friends you choose. You may also want also keep a copy in your wallet or purse or with other important papers.


 

Complaint Procedure

As a person receiving services from Kearney Home Care Services, you may at any time submit a complaint / greivance, verbally and/or in writing, without fear of reprisal about the care and services that you will continue to receive after submission of your complaint.

You further understand that you, a member of your family, friend or other close associate may submit a complaint or grievance in the following way:

A. Verbally, by calling (718) 472-CARE; or

B. In writing, directly to Kearney Home Care Services, 43-32 45th Street, Long Island City, N.Y.  11104

This complaint may be directed to the Clinical Case Manager, who will attempt to resolve it.

You further understand that should your complaint be verbal, it shall be prepared into a statement of mutual understanding which you may be asked to sign. You also understand that, regardless of the nature of your complaint, you will receive a reply in writing within fifteen (15) days. The written response shall include findings of the investigation and the appropriate action taken to resolve such complaint.

You further understand that if you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may file an appeal. This appeal will be forwarded to the Board of Directors, who, in turn, will respond to your complaint within thirty days of receipt. After the Board of Directors has responded to your complaint, if you are still unsatisfied, you may contact the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Health Systems Management, at 311.

You further understand that at any time you have a complaint or grievance, you may also call the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Systems Management, at 311.