As a consumer of health care services in Aotearoa, you have the right to be treated well. The HDC has a Code of Rights that you are entitled to and your health care providers are bound to. These rights are:
Right 1
The right to be treated with respect | Mana
Right 2
The right to fair treatment | Manaakitanga
Right 3
The right to dignity and independence | Tū rangatira Motuhake
Right 4
The right to appropriate standards | Tautikanga
Right 5
The right to effective communication | Whakawhitiwhitinga whakairo
Right 6
The right to be informed | Whakamōhio
Right 7
The right to choice and consent | Whakaritenga mōu ake
Right 8
The right to support | Tautoko
Right 9
Rights during teaching and research | Ako me te rangahau
Right 10
The right for your complaint to be taken seriously | Amuamu
If you are unhappy with a service you receive or feel these rights have not been considered, you have several options:
- Talk to the provider, and raise your concerns
- Ask whānau/friends to support you in raising your concerns with the provider
- Ask for support from an advocate from the Nationwide Health & Disability Advocacy Service, which has advocates from different ethnicities, including Māori. The service is free, confidential, and completely independent from the health and disability system and government
- Make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner
If you do raise a concern or make a complaint, it should not negatively affect your care.
For more information
- The HDC has more information on the Code of Rights here
- There is an easy to understand brochure about your rights from the HDC here
- The Nationwide Health & Disability Advocacy Service can be reached here
- If you want to make a complaint to the Health & Disability Commissioner, you can start the process here