Patient Rights

A patient has the following rights:

1. To be treated with dignity, respect, and consideration.

2. A patient is not subjected to:

• Abuse

• Neglect

• Exploitation

• Coercion

• Manipulation

• Sexual abuse

• Sexual assault

• Restraint or seclusion

• Retaliation for submitting a complaint to the Department or another entity; or

• Misappropriation of personal and private property by a counseling facility’s personnel member, employee, volunteer, or student; and

1. A patient or the patient’s representative:

• Either consents to or refuses counseling;

• May refuse or withdraw consent for receiving counseling before counseling is initiated;

• Is informed of the following: 

1. The counseling facility’s policy on health care directives, and

2. The patient complaint process;

• Consents to photographs of the patient before a patient is photographed except that a patient may be photographed when admitted to an outpatient treatment center for identification and administrative purposes; and

• Except as otherwise permitted by law, provides written consent to the release of information in the patient’s:

1. Medical record, or

2. Financial records.

A patient has the following rights:

1. Not to be discriminated against based on race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or diagnosis;

2. To receive counseling that supports and respects the patients individuality, choices, strengths, and abilities;

3. To receive privacy during counseling;

4. To review, upon written request, the patient’s own medical record according to A.R.S. §§ 12-2293, 12-2294, 12-2294.01;

5. To receive a referral to another health care institution if the counseling facility is not authorized or not able to provide the behavioral health services needed by the patient;

6. To participate or have the patient’s representative participate in the development of, or decisions concerning the counseling provided to the patient;

7. To participate or refuse to participate in research or experimental treatment; and

8. To receive assistance from a family member, the patient’s representative, or other individual in understanding, protecting, or exercising the patient’s rights.

Patient Complaint Procedure:

1. Discuss the problem with the staff member involved in an attempt to resolve the problem.

2. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, submit written documentation of your complaint to the Clinical Director. You will be contacted within 7 working days to discuss the complaint.

3. If the complainant is not the patient, written authorization must be obtained from the patient before an agency employee discusses the complaint with the complainant.

4. If resolution of the complaint is reach through discussion between the persons involved, the resolution agreed upon shall be documented in the patient’s clinical record by the involved staff member.

5. If the complaint is not resolved after step 2, you may pursue the complaint with the AZ Department of Health Services, Bureau of Medical Facilities Licensing, located at 150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ 85007; the telephone number is 602.364.3030.