NCNZ Health Consumer Rights β Questions and Answers
Question 1: What legislation establishes the rights of health consumers in New Zealand?
- The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights 1996 (Correct answer)
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- The Privacy Act 2020
- The Employment Relations Act 2000
Correct answer: The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights 1996
The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights 1996, established under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, sets out ten rights that all health consumers in New Zealand are entitled to.
Question 2: How many rights are established under the NZ Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights?
- Ten rights (Correct answer)
- Five rights
- Twelve rights
- Three rights
Correct answer: Ten rights
The Code establishes ten rights covering areas such as respect, fair treatment, dignity, communication, information, informed consent, choice, support, teaching, and the right to complain.
Question 3: Under the NZ Code, what is Right 5 β the right to effective communication?
- Every consumer has the right to effective communication in a form, language, and pace that enables them to understand the information provided (Correct answer)
- The right to communicate only with the most senior doctor
- The right to refuse all communication about their condition
- The right to have all communication in writing only
Correct answer: Every consumer has the right to effective communication in a form, language, and pace that enables them to understand the information provided
Right 5 states that every consumer has the right to effective communication, including the right to have an interpreter if necessary, to receive information in a way they can understand, and to have communication in a format appropriate to their needs.
Question 4: What is the role of the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) in New Zealand?
- To promote and protect the rights of health consumers by investigating complaints and holding providers accountable (Correct answer)
- To fund public hospitals and health services
- To license all health practitioners in New Zealand
- To set medication prices for the pharmaceutical industry
Correct answer: To promote and protect the rights of health consumers by investigating complaints and holding providers accountable
The HDC promotes and protects the rights of health and disability services consumers, investigates complaints about providers, makes recommendations, and refers serious matters to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal or the Director of Proceedings.
Question 5: Under the NZ Code, what is the consumer's right regarding informed choice and consent (Right 7)?
- The right to make an informed choice and give informed consent, including the right to refuse treatment (Correct answer)
- The right to consent only to treatments recommended by the doctor
- Consent is only required for surgical procedures under NZ law
- The right to consent can be waived by the family if the patient is elderly
Correct answer: The right to make an informed choice and give informed consent, including the right to refuse treatment
Right 7 provides comprehensive consent rights including the right to make informed choices, give informed consent, refuse services, withdraw consent, and have one's advance directive respected. Consent must be free, voluntary, and informed.
Question 6: Under NZ law, what must a nurse do if a patient decides to refuse treatment?
- Respect the patient's decision, ensure they understand the consequences, document the refusal, and inform the medical team (Correct answer)
- Override the refusal if the nurse believes the treatment is necessary
- Contact the patient's family to get them to change the patient's mind
- Discharge the patient immediately
Correct answer: Respect the patient's decision, ensure they understand the consequences, document the refusal, and inform the medical team
NZ nurses must respect a competent patient's right to refuse treatment under Right 7 of the Code. They should ensure the patient understands the consequences of refusal, document the refusal and the information provided, and notify the medical team.
NCNZ Health Consumer Rights
What legislation establishes the rights of health consumers in New Zealand?