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<DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=voices@tbtv.org
href="mailto:voices@tbtv.org">loud.n.clear</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Greetings,<BR><BR>We have been collecting input
for the first draft (below) of the Patients' Charter, encouraging people with
TB, TB-HIV and MDR-TB to "Write Your Rights!". <BR><BR>Now, we seek your
comments for the next version, to further our efforts to foster 'positively
empowered partnerships' between people living with the diseases and the health
providers / authorities in the affected communities.<BR><BR>As the Patients'
Charter is intended to be the 'sister' document for the forthcoming
International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (see below), we have tried to
synthesize the needs of those infected or affected, and of those who work to
confront this disease that kills two million of us each year. In short, a clear
declaration of our rights and responsibilities, and a tool to begin to build
'community' on the ground, around the world. <BR><BR>We would really appreciate
your comments, and before 20 October 2005. <BR>In solidarity,<BR>Erika Blair and
Case Gordon<?smaller><BR><BR><BR>DRAFT 1 : 10.10.05 Comments welcome, send to:
blair@tbtv.org<?/smaller><BR>------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR><B><?x-tad-bigger>Patients'
Charter of the Tuberculosis Community<?/x-tad-bigger><BR><BR>The aim of the
Patients' Charter of the Tuberculosis Community is to explain both the Rights
and Responsibilities of those infected by TB, and to empower people with the
disease and their communities through this knowledge. </B><BR><BR>Knowing and
understanding these rights and responsibilities will make the relationship with
health care providers a mutually beneficial one. The Charter sets out the ways
in which patients, the community and the health providers work as partners in a
positive and open relationship with a view to improving TB care, and enhancing
the effectiveness of the health care process. Empowered patients, helping the
fight to stop TB.<BR><BR><BR><B>PATIENTS' RIGHTS<BR><BR>1. Right to Access to
Care</B><BR><BR>a. The right to free and equitable access to tuberculosis care,
from diagnosis through treatment completion, regardless of race, gender, age,
language, resources, legal status or having another illness.<BR><BR>b. The right
to receive medical advice and treatment which fully meets the new International
Standards of Tuberculosis Care*, centering on patient needs, including those
with MDR-TB or TB-HIV coinfections.<BR><BR><BR><B>2. Right to
Dignity</B><BR><BR>a. The right to be treated with respect and dignity, free of
stigma, prejudice or discrimination by health providers and
authorities.<BR><BR>b. The right to quality health care in a dignified
environment.<BR><BR>c. The right to meet, share experiences and counsel with
peers and other patients.<BR><BR><BR><B>3. Right to Information</B><BR><BR>a.
The right to information about what health care services are available for
tuberculosis, and what engagements, direct or indirect, are involved.<BR><BR>b.
The right to be given a clear, understandable description of the medical
condition, with diagnosis, prognosis (an opinion as to the likely future course
of the illness), and of the treatment proposed including common risks and
appropriate alternatives.<BR><BR>c. The right to know the names of any
medication or intervention to be prescribed, and its normal actions and
potential side-effects, and its possible impact on other conditions or
treatments.<BR><BR>d. The right of access to medical information which relates
to the patient's condition and treatment, and a copy if
requested.<BR><BR><BR><B>4. Right to Choose</B><BR><BR>a. The right to accept or
refuse any medication, investigation or treatment, and to be informed of the
likely consequences of doing so.<BR><BR>b. The right to a second medical
opinion, with access to previous medical records.<BR><BR>c. The right to choose
whether or not to take part in medical research programs.<BR><BR><BR><B>5. Right
to Privacy</B><BR><BR>a. The right to have privacy, dignity and religious and
cultural beliefs respected.<BR><BR>b. The right to have information relating to
the medical condition kept confidential.<BR><BR><BR><B>6. Right to
Complaint</B><BR><BR>a. The right to make a complaint through channels provided
for this purpose by the health authority, and to have any complaint dealt with
promptly and fairly.<BR><BR>b. The right to appeal to a higher authority if the
above is not respected.<BR><BR><BR><B>7. Right to Organize</B><BR><BR>a. The
right to join, or to establish, TB patient organizations, and to seek support
for the development of these clubs and community based associations through the
health providers, authorities, and civil society.<BR><BR>b. The right to
participate as 'stakeholder' in all programs of tuberculosis prevention and
control, and to have meaningful TB patient representation in local and national
health authorities.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B>PATIENTS'
RESPONSIBILITIES</B><BR><BR><B>1. The responsibility to share
information</B><BR><BR>a. The responsibility to provide the health carer with as
much information as possible about present health, past illnesses, any allergies
and any other relevant details.<BR><BR>b. The responsibility to provide
information about contacts with immediate family, friends and others who may be
vulnerable to tuberculosis.<BR><BR><BR><B>2. The responsibility of
treatment</B><BR><BR>a. The responsibility to follow the prescribed and agreed
treatment plan, and to conscientiously comply with the instructions given to
protect the patient's health, and that of others. <BR><BR>b. The responsibility
to inform the health provider of any difficulties or problems with following
treatment.<BR><BR><BR><B>3. The responsibility to the community</B><BR><BR>a.
The responsibility to defend the community by encouraging others to seek medical
advice if they exhibit the symptoms of tuberculosis.<BR><BR>b. The
responsibility of showing solidarity with other patients, and to march together
to treatment completion.<BR><BR><BR><B>4. The responsibility to be
empowered</B><BR><BR>a. The responsibility to show consideration for the rights
of other patients and health care providers, understanding that this is the
dignified basis of the TB community.<BR><BR>b. The responsibility to join in
efforts to make the community TB
Free.<BR><BR>------------<BR><?x-tad-smaller>Read the draft International
Standards for Tuberculosis Care:
http://www.tbtv.org/pdf/ISTC_July_4_2005.pdf<BR><?/x-tad-smaller><BR><?x-tad-smaller>Patients'
Charter of the Tuberculosis Community / draft 1 / 10.10.05<BR>Comments welcome :
send to Erika Blair
(blair@tbtv.org)<BR>http://www.tbtv.org/texts/newsflash/patients_charter_draft1.html<?/x-tad-smaller><BR><BR><?x-tad-smaller>This
Draft will be available in french, and hopefully spanish and russian in the next
few days at www.tbtv.org or upon request to: voices@tbtv.org<BR>To unsubscribe,
please send a blank e-mail with 'delete me' in the subject line.<BR><?/x-tad-smaller><BR><BR><BR><?smaller>TBTV.ORG <BR>'Our Voices, Loud
and Clear!' <BR>info@tbtv.org http://www.tbtv.org<BR>Patients Support Network
for TB-HIV-MDR<BR>Solidarity - Advocacy - Mobilization / Frontline +
Online<BR>Non Profit NGO / French reg.: 0343032864, siren 477635155<BR>Reg. HQ:
34380 Viols - Laval, France tel / fax: (33) 467 595 239<BR>Studio 1: P.O. Box
32678, Lusaka, Zambia tel / fax: (260) 1 221 824<BR>Studio 2: P.O. Box 10087,
Yaoundé, Cameroon tel / fax : (237) 972 5108<?/smaller></DIV></BODY></HTML>