Aspects of patient rights in a developing country: a qualitative study

Patients' rights are integral to ensuring ethical and humane healthcare delivery. Understanding these rights helps promote patient-centered care and strengthens trust in healthcare systems. Although international frameworks outline patients' rights comprehensively, Sri Lanka lacks specific legislative recognition and public awareness on the topic. This study aims to explore perspectives on patients' rights in Sri Lanka and identify barriers and facilitators to their implementation.

A qualitative study was conducted at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, involving individual interviews with twenty participants, including patients (n = 16) from diverse backgrounds and healthcare professionals (n = 4). The study used a generic qualitative inquiry using inductive thematic analysis. Open-ended interviews were transcribed, and key themes were identified based on participants' descriptions of their experiences.

The study identified several key themes regarding patient rights: access to information and informed consent, respect and dignity, and quality of care. Patients were generally satisfied with the amount of information received, although healthcare providers desired more patient involvement in decision-making. Both patients and healthcare professionals stressed the importance of treating patients with respect and dignity. However, patients showed a tendency to defer to the expertise of doctors, placing less emphasis on informed consent and their own autonomy. Patients also expressed a right to high-quality care but experienced some delays and inefficiencies.

This study reveals both strengths and weaknesses in the implementation of patient rights within the Sri Lankan healthcare setting. A lack of formal recognition of patient rights and a cultural tendency for patients to trust doctors' judgement over their own autonomy are key findings. This study highlights the need to improve patient empowerment and education to promote autonomy and shared decision making in their own care. Future studies should include larger, multi-center samples, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of patient rights in Sri Lanka. Importantly, this study advocates for national policy reform, including the development and adoption of an officially recognized Patient Rights Charter.