In the new National Institute for Patient Rights survey, conflict was also the cause of violations #6 and #7, violation of patient right to know hospital rules on charges and payment methods, and the patient right to review the hospital bill, have information explained, and get a copy of the bill. Said one respondent, ?It was like pulling teeth to try to get an explanation of certain charges. I still don?t know why I was charged for things I know we didn?t use.?
Under violation #8, some participants complained about their inability to identify hospital personnel who could help in resolving discrepancies over billing issues or in disagreement between ?team? and patient/advocate over treatment. Patients and their advocates have a right to know of hospital resources, such as patient complaints and grievance processes, patient representatives or ethics committees. It was common in the survey results for respondents to have expressed the desire to have known about the hospital ethics committees and their members in the event of conflict over treatment options.