Values-Based Medicine Is an Ethical Concept for Implementing the Ethical Principles in Daily Practice.

Values-based medicine (VsBM) is an ethical concept, and bioethical framework has been developed to ensure that medical ethics and values are implemented, pervasive, and powerful parameters influencing decisions about health, clinical practice, teaching, medical industry, career development, malpractice, and research. Neurosurgeons tend to adopt ethics according to their own values and to what they see and learn from teachers. Neurosurgeons, in general, are aware about ethical codes and the patient's rights. However, the philosophy, concept, and principles of medical ethics are rarely included in the training programs or in training courses. The impact of implementing, observing the medical ethics and the patients' value and culture on the course, and outcome of patients' management should not underestimate. The main principles of medical ethics are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, dignity, and honesty, which should be strictly observed in every step of medical practice, research, teaching, and publication. Evidence-based medicine has been popularized in the last 40-50 years in order to raise up the standard of medical practice. Medical ethics and values have been associated with the medical practice for thousands of years since patients felt a need for treatment. There is no conflict between evidence-based medicine and values-based medicine, as a medical practice should always be performed within a frame of ethics and respect for patients' values. Observing the principles of values-based medicine became very relevant as multicultural societies are dominant in some countries and hospitals in different corners of the world.

Public involvement in Australian clinical trials: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Public involvement enhances the relevance, quality, and impact of research. There is some evidence that public involvement in Australian research lags other countries, such as the United Kingdom. The purpose of the systematic review was to establish the rates and describe the characteristics of public involvement in Australian clinical trials. METHODS: We reviewed evidence of public involvement in all Australian randomised controlled trials published in the first 6 months of 2021. To determine the quality of public involvement, we used the five-item short-form version of the Guidance of Reporting Involvement Patients and the Public, version 2. RESULTS: In total, 325 randomised controlled trials were included, of which 17 (5%) reported any public involvement. Six trials reported public involvement in setting the research aim and seven in developing study methods. The authors of one study reflected on the overall role and influence of public involvement in the research. CONCLUSION: Rate of public involvement in Australian clinical trials is seemingly substantially lower than those reported in countries with similar advanced public health care systems, notably the United Kingdom. Our observations may be explained by a lack of researcher skills in how to involve the public and the failure by major funding agencies in Australia to mandate public involvement when deciding on how to award grant funding.

[After cancer: after-eff ects, return to work and the right to forget]. / Après un cancer : séquelles, retour à l'emploi et droit à l'oubli.

AFTER CANCER: AFTER-EFFECTS. RETURN TO WORK AND THE RIGHT TO FORGET. The ten-year strategy 2021-2030 against cancers makes staying at work or returning to work after cancer a major priority. A growing number of patients are on the job market at the time of their cancer diagnosis, with a potentially long career future. The after-effects of the disease, and the gap between them and the professional world, present them with numerous difficulties. French national cancer institute (INCa) has launched several initiatives to help people stay in work and return to work, in particular to complement the measures developed by the League against Cancer. INCa has set up the «Cancer and Employment¼ Business Club, a forum for the exchange of best practices and experiences between employers and researchers in the human and social sciences. The «Cancer aide info réseau entrepreneur¼ (CAIRE) scheme supports self-employed patients in their professional careers, and gives them a voice in their professional ecosystem. Research initiatives are also undertaken. The social repercussions of the disease also include its impact on borrowing capacity, for both personal and business loans. The "right to be forgotten" for cancer sufferers applies 5 years after the end of the therapeutic protocol. A grid completes the system, and in certain cases enables insurances for a loan can be obtained on standard or similar terms, even before this period has elapsed. It also includes other pathologies such as HIV, hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis. Last but not least, health questionnaires have been abolished for loans under €200,000. The role of the health professional is paramount, providing advice and facilitating the completion of documents requested by insurers.

APRÈS UN CANCER : SÉQUELLES, RETOUR À L'EMPLOI ET DROIT À L'OUBLI. La stratégie décennale de lutte contre les cancers 2021-2030 fait du maintien et/ou retour au travail ou en activité après un cancer une de ses priorités. Un nombre croissant de malades sont sur le marché du travail au moment de la survenue du cancer, avec un horizon de carrière potentiel assez long. Ces malades doivent faire face à de nombreuses difficultés du fait des séquelles de la maladie mais souvent également du décalage qui s'installe entre eux et le monde professionnel. Les entreprises se sentent fréquemment démunies. L'Institut national de cancer (INCa) a lancé plusieurs actions pour favoriser le maintien et le retour à l'emploi, notamment en complément de dispositifs développés par la Ligue contre le cancer ; l'INCa a ainsi créé un club d'entreprises « Cancer et emploi ¼, espace d'échanges de bonnes pratiques et d'expériences entre employeurs et chercheurs en sciences humaines et sociales. Le dispositif « Cancer Aide Info Réseau Entrepreneur ¼ (CAIRE) accompagne les travailleurs indépendants malades dans leur parcours professionnel et porte leur voix auprès des acteurs de leur écosystème professionnel. Des actions de recherche sont également entreprises. Le retentissement social de la maladie concerne aussi la capacité d'emprunt, pour des prêts à caractère personnel ou professionnel. Le droit à l'oubli pour les personnes atteintes de cancer s'applique cinq ans après la fin du protocole thérapeutique. Une grille vient compléter ce dispositif et permet dans certains cas, avant même la survenue de ce délai, l'obtention d'une assurance pour un prêt aux conditions standard ou s'en rapprochant. Cette grille inclut également d'autres pathologies, comme le VIH, l'hépatite C ou la mucoviscidose. Enfin, les questionnaires de santé sont supprimés pour les assurances de prêts inférieurs à 200 000 €. La place du professionnel de santé est prépondérante, en apportant des conseils et en facilitant la complétion des documents demandés par les assureurs.

Hospital Care for Cancer Patients-Education and Respect for Patient Rights.

This study aims to examine cancer patients' opinions of safety, the observance of patient's rights, and the quality of healthcare. Such an analysis will allow for the identification of areas for improvement in quality, safety, and communication between medical staff and patients. Cancer patients are a special kind of patients with chronic and complex diseases, so we need to observe the type of communication they use, which is a critical issue in a hospital ward but also has a significant impact on how the patient follows recommendations at home. Observing a patient's rights impacts the safety and quality of medical care. This information allows for the identification of areas requiring deeper analysis and improvement. This study was based on a survey conducted at an oncology hospital. The survey contained questions divided into seven sections related to the study areas. Our study emphasizes the importance of knowledge and understanding regarding patient rights among medical staff and patients, underscoring their role in ensuring quality and safety in healthcare settings. We found a strong correlation between the politeness of medical receptionists and staff and patient perceptions of the clarity and exhaustiveness of the information provided.

Xenograft recipients and the right to withdraw from a clinical trial.

Preclinical xenotransplantation research using genetically engineered pigs has begun to show some promising results and could one day offer a scalable means of addressing organ shortage. While it is a fundamental tenet of ethical human subject research that participants have a right to withdraw from research once enrolled, several scholars have argued that the right to withdraw from xenotransplant research should be suspended because of the public health risks posed by xenozoonotic transmission. Here, we present a comprehensive critical evaluation of the claim that xenotransplant recipients should be required to waive their right to withdraw from lifelong biosurveillance. We conclude that if xenotransplantation requires participants to waive their right to withdraw, then clinical trials may not be justifiable, given the ethical and legal obstacles involved with doing so. Consequently, if clinical trials are permitted with a right to withdraw, then they may pose a significant public health risk.

Knowledge Gaps and Bridges: The Relationship between the Awareness of General Patient Rights and the Awareness of Minors' Patient Rights in the Netherlands.

The major focus of this research is the level of awareness among Dutch parents of general patient rights in relation to minors' patient rights. Moreover, this study is intended to highlight the most effective strategies to increase the awareness of general and minor patient rights in the Netherlands. A survey was conducted among 1010 Dutch parents aged between 35 and 55 years who had at least one child. In this study, we described the relationship between the knowledge among parents of general patient rights and their understanding of the patient rights of minors. A significant connection was found between the knowledge levels of general patient rights and the knowledge levels of the patient rights of minors (p < 0.05 [95% CI: 0.019-0.183]). While age and sex (male/female) did not appear to be significant confounders in this association, the educational background of the participants may have played a role. This study provides comprehensive insights into the association between the knowledge of general patient rights and the patient rights of minors among Dutch parents. Furthermore, this study points out that there is a need for focused educational interventions to address specific areas of misunderstanding or uncertainty.

Literacy-related factors and knowledge of patient rights charter: evidence from nurses in selected hospitals in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Systems of across the world have developed and implemented patient rights policies to protect and improve the provider-patient relationship. The Patient Charter of Ghana was developed in 2002 to improve service quality and protect patients' rights. However, it is not yet known whether those at the frontline of healthcare delivery can read and understand the contents of the charter. While studies have explored the socioeconomic and institutional level factors related to awareness and knowledge of the Patient Rights Charter, there is a lack of literature on its readability and comprehensibility among nurses. This study assesses nurses' knowledge of the Patient Rights Charter and associated literacy-related factors. METHOD: An exploratory cross-sectional design and quantitative methods were used to collect data on knowledge, comprehension, and readability of the Patient Rights Charter. 205 nurses from four district hospitals in the Central Region were recruited using proportional and total enumeration sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and were processed using SPSS (version 26) and an online text readability consensus calculator (version 2.0). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, and data were presented using simple frequencies, readability statistics, and regression output. RESULTS: The results show the charter is written at a higher reading grade level; Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (13.36), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (11.57), and Coleman-Liau Readability Index (14.2). The average reading grade level score was 14. The Gunning Fox Index (15.40) and the Flesch Reading Ease Score (34%) show the patient charter is difficult to read and will require at least 14 years of education to be able to read. 87.3% of nurses were able to read and comprehend the charter. Very few (8.3%) read at frustration level. Nurses' actual comprehension of the charter was the only significant predictor of knowledge of the charter. CONCLUSION: Comprehension of the patient charter is an important predictor of its knowledge. The results emphasize the need to enhance the readability and comprehensibility of the charter for providers. Hospitals can stimulate nurses' knowledge of the charter by simplifying the charter's language and deliberately educating nurses on its content.

Patterns in the provision of government-subsidised hormonal postpartum contraception in Queensland, Australia between 2012 and 2018: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Short birth intervals and unintended pregnancy are associated with poorer maternal and infant outcomes. There is a risk of pregnancy during the immediate postpartum period unless contraception is initiated. This retrospective cohort study aimed to capture the current patterns of hormonal contraceptive provision within 12 months postpartum in a high-income country. METHODS: We used a linked administrative dataset comprising all women who gave birth in Queensland, Australia between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2018 (n=339 265 pregnancies). We described our cohort by whether they were provided with government-subsidised hormonal contraception within 12 months postpartum. The associations between hormonal postpartum contraceptive provision and demographic and clinical characteristics were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression and presented in terms of crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A majority of women (60.2%) were not provided with government-subsidised hormonal postpartum contraception within 12 months postpartum. Women who were younger (<25 years), were overweight or obese, smoked, were born in Australia, were non-Indigenous, gave birth in a public hospital, or were in the lowest socioeconomic status group were more likely to be provided with postpartum contraception after adjusting for other covariates, compared with their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to increase the provision and uptake of contraception in the immediate postpartum period are needed to prevent short birth intervals and unintended pregnancy and ensure women's fertility intentions are enacted. Ongoing research is needed to examine the factors influencing women's access to contraceptive services and, further, the types of contraception provided.

An Evaluation on the Attitude Toward Using Patient Rights and Satisfaction Levels in Emergency Department Patients.

INTRODUCTION: In emergency health care services, patient satisfaction is one of the fundamental indicators of quality emergency care, making it essential to identify factors that can impact this component of care. This study aimed to determine emergency service patients' attitudes toward using patient rights, their satisfaction levels with emergency service, and related factors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 382 patients who presented to the emergency department between November 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected using the Patient Description Form, the Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale, and the Scale of Patient Rights Using Attitude. The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for reporting. RESULTS: The mean score of the Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale was 53.88 ± 6.88 (minimum score, 30; maximum score, 68), and the mean score of the Scale of Patient Rights Using Attitude was 108.89 ± 11.90 (minimum score, 73; maximum score, 135). As a result of the regression analysis, it was found that the Scale of Patient Rights Using Attitude scores and frequency of ED visits significantly contributed to the Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale scores. Younger patients who had higher educational status presented to the emergency department more frequently and had chronic diseases were associated with positive attitudes about using patient rights and had higher levels of ED patient satisfaction (P < .001). DISCUSSION: The study has provided valuable information for assessing the attitudes of ED patients toward exercising their patient rights and their satisfaction levels. Respect for patient rights and their effective utilization by patients can enhance the quality of ED services and increase patient satisfaction.

Psychometric testing of the Indonesian version of the Nurses' Ethical Behavior in Protecting Patients' Rights (I-NEBPPR) scale.

Background: Nurses routinely encounter ethical dilemmas with patients and healthcare professionals. Therefore, it is crucial for them to be conscious of ethical principles and apply them in their decision-making processes. However, no specific questionnaire is available to assess nurses' ethical conduct in Indonesia. Objective: This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the Nurses' Ethical Behavior in Protecting Patients' Rights (I-NEBPPR) scale. Methods: Following the World Health Organization's guidelines and utilizing the WHODAS 2.0 translation package, the NEBPPR was translated into Bahasa Indonesia and underwent a rigorous translation and adaptation process. Data were collected between October and November 2022 and included 283 Indonesian nurses as participants. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate construct validity. Convergent validity, discriminant validity, and reliability were also performed for comprehensive evaluation. IBM SPSS statistics version 27.0 and AMOS 24.0 were used for statistical analysis. Results: Five items were excluded from the original versions, forming five subscales that include a combined total of 23 items. The subscales are as follows: Factor 1 (Respect for right to information and decision), Factor 2 (Providing fair care), Factor 3 (Providing benefit-not harming), Factor 4 (Respect for patient values and choices), and Factor 5 (Attention to privacy). The I-NEBPPR model demonstrated robust construct validity with factor loadings ranging from 0.453 to 0.871. CFA showed satisfactory model fit indices (χ2/df = 1.554 (p <0.001), GFI = 0.906, CFI = 0.929, IFI = 0.930, RMSEA = 0.044). Reliability metrics were solid, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.819 and composite reliability exceeding 0.6. Both convergent validity, as indicated by AVE, and discriminant validity, as confirmed by the Fornell-Larcker criterion, met established thresholds. Conclusion: It is affirmed that the 23-item I-NEBPPR demonstrated strong psychometric properties, making it a valuable, practical, and time-efficient tool for nurse supervisors, nurse managers, and nurse leaders to assess nurses' clinically-based ethical behavior in their efforts to protect patient's rights.

Addressing challenges related to the professional practice of abortion post-Roe.

The landmark Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 established a constitutional right to abortion. In June 2022, the Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision brought an end to the established professional practice of abortion throughout the United States. Rights-based reductionism and zealotry threaten the professional practice of abortion. Rights-based reductionism is generally the view that moral or ethical issues can be reduced exclusively to matters of rights. In relation to abortion, there are 2 opposing forms of rights-based reductionism, namely fetal rights reductionism, which emphasizes the rights for the fetus while disregarding the rights and autonomy of the pregnant patient, and pregnant patient rights reductionism, which supports unlimited abortion without regards for the fetus. The 2 positions are irreconcilable. This article provides historical examples of the destructive nature of zealotry, which is characterized by extreme devotion to one's beliefs and an intolerant stance to opposing viewpoints, and of the importance of enlightenment to limit zealotry. This article then explores the professional responsibility model as a clinically ethically sound approach to overcome the clashing forms of rights-based reductionism and zealotry and to address the professional practice of abortion. The professional responsibility model refers to the ethical and professional obligations that obstetricians and other healthcare providers have toward pregnant patients, fetuses, and the society at large. It provides a more balanced and nuanced approach to the abortion debate, avoiding the pitfalls of reductionism and zealotry, and allows both the rights of the woman and the obligations to pregnant and fetal patients to be considered alongside broader ethical, medical, and societal implications. Constructive and respectful dialogue is crucial in addressing diverse perspectives and finding common ground. Embracing the professional responsibility model enables professionals to manage abortion responsibly, thereby prioritizing patients' interests and navigating between absolutist viewpoints to find balanced ethical solutions.

[The assessment of asbestos exposure of mesothelioma cases registered in Italy: which problems more than thirty years after the birth of the first regional archives]. / La valutazione dell'esposizione ad amianto dei casi di mesotelioma maligno registrati in Italia: quali problematiche a più di trent'anni dalla nascita dei primi archivi regionali.

More than 30 years have passed since the beginning of the epidemiological surveillance of mesothelioma (MM). The Italian National Mesothelioma Register (ReNaM), part of the research department of the National Institute for insurance against industrial injuries (INAIL), has published 7 reports with the description of the cas-es concerning the assessment of diagnoses and exposures to asbestos suffered mainly during working activities but also environmental, in the family premises and during personal activities.Today we are witnessing a reduction in the commitment by some regions which negatively affects those who develop the pathology. Reading the ReNaM reports it emerges, among others, the problem of the delay in reporting new cases which limits the collection of information directly from patients. This contribution, discussing various topics, invites to develop a debate that should allow to update and resolve the critical aspects that arise after decades of activity regarding, in particular, the asbestos exposure assessment. It is the primary interest of the authors to give continuity and improve the ReNaM which remains the most prestigious MM register among those active in other countries.

The assessment of health system responsiveness from the viewpoints of COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Pandemics such as Corona are currently major health concerns worldwide. Health system responsiveness to the medical and non-medical needs of patients during pandemics is essential. This study aimed to examine hospitals' responsiveness to Corona patients. METHODS: This descriptive and analytical research had a cross-sectional design. The study population included Corona patients discharged from 17 public hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in the spring of 2021. WHO questionnaire for health system responsiveness was used to collect data. 413 patients participated in the study who were selected by random classified sampling. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, including frequency, and deviation, and to examine the relationship between variables, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used. RESULTS: In this study, one-third participants were in the age range of 31 to 40 (32.6%). The ability of 277 (70.5%) participants to pay treatment costs was very low, and low. 380 (96.7%) of the respondents had basic health insurance and 101 (25.7%) had supplementary insurance. In general, respondents evaluated the responsiveness of hospitals as 75.6. The highest score was related to confidentiality, and the lowest to prompt attention. There was no significant relationship between the total response score with demographic information. CONCLUSION: The responsiveness of studied hospitals to Corona patients was adequate. However, there was dissatisfaction with the lack of timely treatment and medication. Moreover, the most important dimension of responsiveness was dignity. Healthcare providers need to pay attention to different aspects of responsiveness and improving the quality of and access to health services during pandemics and disasters.

Evolución de la deontología española (1978-2022) qué ha cambiado en los últimos 40 años? / Evolution of spanish deontology (1978-2022). What has changed in the last 40 years?

El artículo repasa la evolución de la deontología de la Organización Médica Colegial a través de cómo se ha plasmado en los Códigos de Deontología aprobados por esta institución. Tras una aproximación al espíritu y contenidos del primer Código de Deontología de 1978, nacido tras la Constitución Española, aprobada ese mismo año, que estableció el reconocimiento y la necesidad de regular los colegios profesionales y el ejerci cio de los profesionales titulados. Se compara Código de 1978 con el recientemente aprobado en diciembre del 2022, utilizando como puente el segundo Código de 1990. En la comparación encontramos muchas cuestiones bioéticas sobre las que, a través de las últimas décadas, se ha reflexionado y se han introducido respuestas que responden a los numerosos cambios sociales y tecnológicos que se han producido. Se hace es pecial referencia al concepto de respeto, plasmado en la relación entre el médico y el paciente. Se trata de una relación que, con frecuencia, no es simétrica porque quien sufre puede sentir o soportar una extrema vulnerabilidad. Se reflexiona también sobre la evolución de temas relevantes o que pueden plantear más controversias, como el respeto a la vida inicial y final. La síntesis del actual Código de Deontología médica de 2022 se puede hacer en tres palabras: Respeto y Derechos Humanos (AU)

The article reviews the evolution of the deontology of the Spanish Medical Organization through how it has been reflected in the diverse codes of deontology approved by this institution. After an approxima tion to the spirit and contents of the first Code of ethics approved in 1978, born after the Spanish Cons titution, passed that same year, which established the recognition and the need to regulate professional associations and the exercise of qualified professionals. The 1978 Code is compared with the one recently approved in December 2022, using the second 1990 Code as a bridge. In the comparison we find many bioethical issues on which, through the last decades, reflections have been made and answers have been introduced that respond to the many social and technological changes that have occurred. Special referen ce is made to the concept of respect, embodied in the relationship between the doctor and the patient. It is a relationship that is often not symmetrical because the sufferer may feel or endure extreme vulnerability. The article also reflects on the evolution of relevant issues or those that may raise more controversies, such as respect for initial and final life. The synthesis of the current 2022 Code of Medical Ethics can be done in three words: Respect and Human Rights (AU)

Psychiatry's Obligation to Promote Voting Among Patients With Mental Illness.

The American Medical Association adopted a resolution in June 2022 recognizing voting as a social determinant of health. As psychiatric professionals and trainees with experience in civic health, the authors argue that psychiatrists must consider the relationship between voting and mental health as part of care delivery. People with psychiatric illness can experience unique barriers to voting and garner mental health benefits from civic engagement. Provider-led activities to promote voting are accessible and simple. Given the benefits of voting, and the availability of interventions to foster voter engagement, psychiatrists have an obligation to promote voting access among their patients.

[Advance Decision Behavioral Intention and Related Factors in Adults Living in the Community].

BACKGROUND: Improvements in medical science and technology have increased the average number of years that older adults survive with impaired quality of life. Understanding behavioral intentions and related factors affecting advance decision (AD) decision-making can help medical professionals improve the decision-making ability of patients, allowing patients and their family members to make better medical decisions that reduce ineffective medical treatments, improve quality of life, and facilitate a good death. PURPOSE: This study was developed to explore behavioral intentions and related factors during the process of AD decision-making among community adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used in this study. The knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions regarding AD decisions, spiritual health, and social support were measured in a convenience sample using physical or internet-based questionnaires. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21.0 using descriptive and independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-seven community adults participated in this research (50.57 years old, SD = 13.39; 58.4% female). The average level of AD-related behavioral intention was found to be high, with high numbers of participants indicating that they would refuse endotracheal intubation (4.13, SD = 0.92), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (4.09, SD = 0.95), extracorporeal heart massage (4.08, SD = 0.95), and defibrillation (4.08, SD = 0.98) if they were in a permanent vegetative state in the future. The important predictors of AD behavioral intention included gender, written expression of end-of-life medical decision-making, participation in the patient self-rights law and advance decision publicity lectures, having an advance decision attitude, and social support (R2 = 40.1%, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A high level of AD-related behavioral intention was found in the sample and several important factors that influence related behaviors were identified. These results provide an important reference for related public policymakers to increase the percentage of older patients participating in advance directive decision-making.

Advancing the Rights of Patients in Nigeria: Analysing the Patients' Bill of Rights.

The rights of persons who seek medical attention have been enshrined in national and international legal instruments, notwithstanding their health status. However, these rights are not fully secured in Nigeria due to some factors affecting the health care system. Using the doctrinal method of study, this article examines the concept of the rights of patients in Nigeria. It discusses the nature of the health system in Nigeria and highlights the rights stated in the Patients' Bill of Rights 2018 (Ng) (PBoR) as well as the corresponding duties of health care practitioners. The article shows that the rights of patients in Nigeria highlighted in the PBoR, have been continuously hindered by their weak enforcement, inadequate funding, insufficient health care providers, inadequate infrastructure, lack of awareness and illiteracy. It concludes that urgent steps need to be taken by the Nigerian government as well as other relevant stakeholders in addressing these issues.