It is very important to set expectations when entering into a patient/caregiver relationship. That is accomplished by discussing terms of the agreement and clearly communicating it in writing for later reference. Easy enough, right? However, I firmly believe that there are also fundamental rights that are non-negotiable. The phrasing below is from the point of view of the patient.
- You have a right to respect and non-discrimination. You have a right to considerate, respectful, non-discriminatory care from your Caregiver.
- You have a right to confidentiality of your health information, you have a right to talk in confidence with your Caregiver, and to have your healthcare information protected under all applicable laws.
- You have the right to information disclosure. You have the right to accurate and easy to understand information about the local, state and federal laws and regulations. Your Caregiver should be able to provide you with this information.
- You have a right to adequate quality control. You have the right to cannabis products that are free of mold, mildew, pesticides, adulterants, and pests. You have the right to know how the cannabis was produced. All of these are questions that your Caregiver should be able to answer.
- You have a right to end a Caregiver/Patient relationship without cause or reason.
- You have the right to obtain your medicine in a safe environment, which includes but isn’t limited to security, health and safety protocols, as well as legal and ethical business practices where appropriate.
- You have the right to have input and to make a complaint to your Caregiver, without the fear of losing access.
- You have the right to medicine that is labeled and weighed accurately. No Caregiver should ever deliberately mislead a patient about the quantity of or variety of medication that is being provided.
- You have the right to pay a fair and reasonable price for the service provided by your Caregiver.
- You may not divulge the identity of your Caregiver unless compelled by court order.
- You may not sell or give away cannabis product acquired from you Caregiver.
- You may not reveal the location of your Caregiver’s grow space.
Click here for a PDF copy of the document I give to patients.
Should there be additional rights added to this list? Is there anything listed here that doesn’t belong?
Happy Harvests!
— The Lit Farmer —
