NAC449.4514. Rights of patients; informed consent.

The administrator of a facility shall ensure that:

     1. Each patient admitted to the facility is treated with respect, consideration and dignity.

     2. Each patient admitted to the facility is provided appropriate privacy.

     3. Each patient admitted to the facility is informed of his or her rights as a patient in accordance with the provisions of NRS 449.730. The patient must be informed, at the time of his or her admission, of the services available, the estimated cost of those services and the policy of the facility relating to obtaining a refund of any fees that were deposited with the facility. If a patient is unable to understand his or her rights, they must be explained to the patient’s legal guardian, next of kin or the agency financially responsible for his or her care.

     4. Each patient admitted to the facility is given the opportunity to participate in decisions relating to his or her health care, unless the patient is unable to do so because of his or her medical condition.

     5. An informed consent properly executed by a patient admitted to the facility or by his or her legal guardian is obtained before any surgery is performed. The informed consent must authorize, by name, the person performing the surgery to perform that surgery and must name or describe the surgical procedure to be performed. Any expectations, risks or complications relating to the surgery or alternatives to the surgery that are discussed with the patient must be set forth in the informed consent.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R052-02, eff. 7-24-2002)