Dental Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

The Patient Rights and Responsibilities outlined below apply to all patients in our clinics. The University of California, San Francisco complies with all applicable laws and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We encourage patients to be fully informed about every aspect of their care. Your dental care provider and supervising faculty are the best resources for questions about the treatment and services you receive at the School.

Patient rights

All patients of the UCSF School of Dentistry have the right to:

• Receive considerate and respectful care.
• Know the name of their dental care provider.
• Be informed of risks, the nature of procedures, expected benefits, available alternatives, and the risks of no treatment.
• Ask their dental provider to discuss all treatment options, regardless of coverage or cost.
• Know in advance the type and expected cost of treatment.
• Review and receive an explanation of their statement of charges.
• Be informed of ongoing dental health care requirements.
• Reasonable continuity of care and completion of treatment.
• Expect dental team members to use appropriate infection-control and sterilization practices.
• Privacy regarding their dental care program.
• Confidentiality of all communications and records pertaining to their care, with access to their patient record as permitted by law.
• Have these rights extended to a legal representative when applicable.
• Treatment that meets the accepted Standard of Care.
• Express concerns or complaints about their care, with assurance that doing so will not compromise the quality of care.
• Exercise these rights and have reasonable access to treatment in UCSF Dental Clinics.

Patient responsibilities

As a patient at the UCSF Dental Clinics, you also have the responsibility to:
 

• Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete health information to your dental provider and other professionals caring for you.
• Follow the treatment plan recommended by your dental provider after giving informed consent.
• Keep scheduled appointments.
• Accept the consequences of your decisions if you refuse treatment or do not follow provider instructions.
• Fulfill your financial obligations for dental care promptly.
• Follow Dental Clinics’ rules and regulations regarding patient care and conduct.
• Respect the rights and property of other patients and clinic personnel. This includes no cell phone use in reception or treatment areas, and no photography or video recording in these areas.
• Comply with UCSF’s smoke-free policy.