Subsection 3: Residence conditions.

Staff at all levels must be specially trained to receive patients and those accompanying them.

As soon as they arrive in the establishment, all in-patients receive the welcome booklet provided for in article L. 1112-2.

In-patients are informed of the names of the practitioners and people called upon to give them care.

If a patient does not accept the treatment, intervention or care offered to him, his discharge, except in the case of a medically certified emergency requiring other care, shall be ordered by the Director after the patient has signed a document stating his refusal to accept the proposed care. If the patient refuses to sign this document, a record of this refusal is drawn up.

In each department, doctors receive the families of in-patients either by appointment, or on days and times that are made known to patients and their families.

With the exception of minors subject to parental authority and subject to the provisions of article L. 1111-5, hospitalised patients may request that no information be given concerning their presence in the establishment or their state of health. In the absence of opposition from the persons concerned, information of a medical nature, such as the diagnosis and course of the illness, may only be given by doctors under the conditions…

In-patients must be able to participate in the exercise of their religion. At their request, they may be visited by the minister of their choice.

Visitors must not disturb the rest of patients or interfere with the running of departments. If this obligation is not respected, the Director may decide to expel the visitor and prohibit him/her from visiting. Journalists, photographers, canvassers and representatives do not have access to patients, except with the patient’s agreement and written authorisation from the Director. Patients may ask the ward’s nursing staff not to allow anyone they designate to…

Visitors and patients must not bring alcoholic beverages or medicines into the establishment, except with the doctor’s consent in the case of medicines. In the interests of the patient, the nursing staff on duty will object to any food or drink, even non-alcoholic, that is not compatible with the prescribed diet. Any food or drink smuggled in will be returned to the visitors or, failing that, destroyed. Pets, with the…

When a patient, duly warned, causes persistent disorders, the Director will take all appropriate measures, with the agreement of the Department Head Physician, which may go as far as ordering the patient to be discharged.