Asked by Cristina Esteban on Jul 02, 2024

The family of a patient whose insurance will not pay for continuing hospitalization considers transferring the patient to a public psychiatric hospital. The family expresses concern that the patient will "never get any treatment." Which reply by the nurse would be most helpful?

A) "Under the law, treatment must be provided. Hospitalization without treatment violates patients' rights."
B) "That's a justifiable concern because the right to treatment extends only to the provision of food, shelter, and safety."
C) "Much will depend on other patients, because the right to treatment for a psychotic patient takes precedence over the right to treatment of a patient who is stable."
D) "All patients in public hospitals have the right to choose both a primary therapist and a primary nurse."

Public Psychiatric Hospital

A healthcare facility specializing in the treatment and care of individuals with mental health disorders.

Continuing Hospitalization

The ongoing state of a patient being treated and cared for in a hospital setting for an extended period of time.

Patients' Rights

The basic rule of conduct between patients and medical caretakers or the institutions and people that support them.

  • Recognize the rights of patients within psychiatric hospitals, including the right to treatment.