Patient Care Issues

Patient Bill of Rights
Patients receiving services at Jersey Shore University Medical Center are entitled to the following.

• Available services and the providers of those services
• Hospital charges and fees
• Diagnosis and treatment options
• Participation in research
• Patient refusal of medication and treatment
• Grievance procedures

Additional patient rights include:

• Freedom from restraints (unless authorized by a physician for limited periods of time)
• Prompt acknowledgment of and response to reports of pain in order to control and/or minimize it
• Courteous treatment with respect for each patient's civil rights and without discrimination based on age, race, religion, sex, nationality, or ability to pay

Advance Directives (Living Wills)
Advance directive laws ensure your right to determine the course of your treatment should you become incapacitated. To learn more about advance directives, also known as "living wills," please see the "Important Decisions" brochure in your admission packet or call Patient Relations at 732-776-4447.

Organ and Tissue Donation
Jersey Shore University Medical Center is committed to raising awareness about the life-saving gift of organ and tissue donation. Jersey Shore works closely with NJ Sharing Network, a New Jersey-based, federally certified, state-approved organ recovery organization. In addition, Jersey Shore is one of nine hospitals in New Jersey that has joined the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, an initiative focused on saving thousands of lives annually by fostering best practices on organ donation, increasing the number of organ donors, and sharing expertise at large hospitals throughout the country.

To become an organ donor, simply fill out an organ donor card. In addition, when renewing your driver's license, ask a representative how to indicate donor status on your new license. It is also important to discuss your wishes about organ and tissue donation with your family. For more information about giving the gift of life, please call NJ Sharing Network at 1-800-SHARE-NJ.

Ethics Consultation
Ethics consultation is an advisory service designed to assist professionals, patients, family members, and staff in making ethical decisions related to health issues. For further information or to request assistance, please page the Bioethics Consult Committee anytime at 732-502-3799.