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Protecting the interests of patients and their families
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is committed towards delivering quality service and ensuring the best outcomes for our patients. We aim to serve you, our patients and your families by providing quality healthcare built on values of compassion, respect, and integrity. As your healthcare provider, our medical professionals endeavour to treat your medical condition and safeguard your well-being regardless of your age, race, language, religion or social status. |
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Care and Respect
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At SGH, you shall be treated with dignity and in a humane and safe environment. Your personal safety includes being free from physical restraints or seclusion, unless required as part of your overall medical treatment. Appropriate protection will be accorded to the disabled, elderly and those with special needs. |
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We respect your personal values, religious and ethnic beliefs; and your need for privacy. You may express your religious and/or ethnic practices so long as they do not cause disharmony or conflict. If you require support in this area, please inform your nurse in the ward who can arrange for a visit by a religious counsellor. |
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Making decisions about medical treatment for a serious illness can be difficult for you and your family. If necessary, the Bioethics Committee Secretariat will look into problems on management with patient and family input. We will respect and comply with your decisions made in accordance with your Advance Medical Directive1 if you have made one. |
Confidentiality and Privacy
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When you are a patient at SGH, we keep records of your visit. We are bound by law and professional ethics to keep your medical records, including Electronic Medical Records2, and all aspects of care rendered to you strictly confidential. |
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This information will only be shared by those involved in providing care for you. |
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This information may also be shared with other staff in the hospital administration for the purpose of hospital operations, e.g. monitoring of the services rendered by our staff to you. |
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SGH is a hospital that provides training to furture generations of healthcare professionals. We are also a major centre for medical research in this region. Thus, there may be a need to view medical records for medical research and training, as authorised by law or the hospital. However, those who view your records are under legal obligation not to disclose them to anyone. |
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We may also be required by law to disclose the information in certain circumstances, such as for the purpose of notification of infectious diseases. |
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Other than for the abovementioned instances, we will obtain written authorisation from you should we need to release your information to others. |
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We will conduct consultation, examination, treatment and case discussion discreetly and with respect to your personal privacy. |
Explanation and Information about Your Treatment
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You are entitled to information on your medical condition, conveyed in a way you can understand. This information shall include, except in emergencies and where applicable:
 Treatment options (including surgery process)
 Known outcome
 Known risks of treatment
 Known risks and consequences of non-treatment
 Estimated hospital bill
 Plan for your continuous care after discharge
 The names of the healthcare professionals responsible for your treatment. |
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In addition, you may also request:
- A copy of your medical report in accordance to the hospital's policy
- An explanation of your hospital charges
- Any additional information or queries you may have about your stay in the hospital. |
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The information provided will help you decide whether to give consent to, or refurse the proposed treatment and/or procedure. |
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However, if you choose not to undergo treatment, or leave the hospital against the doctor's advice, to the extent permitted by law, you may do so after signing a form to request discharge against medical advice. |
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You will accept full responsibility for the consequences as a result of your decision. |
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Research
| Before conducting a medical research involving human subjects, we are required to obtain the written consent of patient to participate in the research project. You can choose to refuse to participate or to opt out at any point during the research project, after giving your written consent. Your decision not to participate will not compromise the level of care you are entitled to. |
Organ Donation
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Organ donation is the only way to give better quality of life for patients suffering from organ failures, such as heart, liver and kidney failures. The Human Organ Transplant Act or HOTA allows for the organs (kidney, liver, heart and cornea) of those who have died in the hospitals, usually from causes such as accidents, bleeding in the brain or brain tumours, to be removed for the purpose of transplantation. Applicable to non-Muslims between the ages of 21 and 60 years, HOTA allows many patients to lead a normal, active life again. It also regulates living donor transplantation.
Those who do not wish to donate any organs after death may opt out of HOTA. Their wishes will be respected. The opt-out form may be obtained from the hospital and polyclinics, or from the Organ Donor Registry at the following address:
Block 3, Room 9,
Singapore General Hospital,
Singapore 169608
Tel: 6321 4390
For more information, please contact the HOTA Hotline:1800-2254-122 or visit the Ministry of Health's website at www.moh.gov.sg. |
Your Responsibilities
| While we have a responsibility to safeguard your interests as our patient, it is important for you to play your part in the entire treatment process. We want to give you the best possible care that meets your needs and to address the anxieties of your family. We ask that you and your family: |
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Provide complete information on your medical history (including allergies and medicines you are taking), financial circumstances, and other relevant details to enable us to help you; |
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Comply with the treatment plan given to you by our healthcare professionals; |
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Inform us when you encounter problems that prevent you from complying with the treatment plans; |
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Advise us of changes in your medical condition; |
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Be responsible in meeting the required fees and charges for the medical services provided to you; |
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Appoint a decision-maker to represent your wishes about your care to us, in the event that you are unable to do so; |
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Treat all staff and other patients and visitors with due respect and courtesy; |
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Comply with the hospital's regulations such as policy on visitation; |
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Ask questions when you do not understand any instruction, so that we know you are capable of taking care of yourself at home after discharge. |
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Feedback
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We value your feedback on our continuous efforts to improve our services for the benefit of our patients. If you have any suggestions or wish to share your experience about our services, you may complete the Feedback Form or contact our Service Quality Management Department at Tel: 6326 5350. You can also submit your feedback using our online form.
We thank you for placing your trust in us, and we wish you a restful and pleasant stay or visit at SGH. Our staff are always here to help, so please approach us if we can make your visit or stay more comfortable. |
This document is also available in the following languages. Please click on the link to download a pdf version:
Our Commitment to Patients (Chinese)
Our Commitment to Patients (Malay)
Our Commitment to Patients (Tamil)
Note:
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- Advance Medical Directive is a legal document which you sign in advance, to inform the doctor treating you that you do not want any life-sustaining treatment to prolong your life, in the event that you become terminally ill and unconscious. |
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- Electronic Medical Record Exchange (EMRX) is an initiative by the Ministry of Health and two public healthcare clusters, Singhealth (which SGH is part of), and National Healthcare Group to share electronic medical records across all public hospitals and polyclinics in Singapore.EMRX enables medical staff involved in your care to meet your unique medical needs better and faster. The following information will be shared:
- Discharge Summary which summarises your recent hospitalisation record
- Laboratory, x-ray and other radiological test results
- Operation reports
- Medicines prescribed
To find out more about Advance Medical Directive and EMRX, please visit the Ministry of Health's website at www.moh.gov.sg. |
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