1. Patient Rights
a. Right to receive medical care
Every patient has the right to appropriate health care services for the protection and promotion of their health. No patient's health-related rights may be infringed on grounds of sex, age, religion, social status or economic circumstances, and a medical professional may not refuse treatment without justifiable cause.
b. Right to know and right to self-determination
A patient may receive and request full explanation from the attending physician or nurse regarding their condition, treatment methods, whether they are the subject of medical research, organ transplantation, expected outcomes including side effects, and treatment costs, and has the right to decide whether to consent.
c. Right to confidentiality
A patient's physical and health-related confidentiality and privacy may not be infringed. Medical professionals and institutions may not disclose or publish such information except with the patient's consent or where required by law, such as a criminal investigation.
d. Right to request counselling and mediation
Where a dispute arises in relation to medical services, a patient may apply for counselling and mediation with bodies such as the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency.
2. Patient Duties
a. Duty of trust and respect toward medical professionals
A patient shall accurately inform medical professionals of their health-related information, and shall trust and respect the treatment plan.
b. Duty not to obtain treatment by improper means
A patient shall verify their identity before treatment and shall not obtain treatment by false or improper means, such as using another person's name.