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Health & Disability Services Consumers' Rights

HDC Code of Rights

The Code and Making a Complaint - 'Health and Disability Commissioner' and 'People First' video

Key points to remember about your rights when using health and disability services

  • when you use a health or disability service, you have rights
  • all people in New Zealand have these rights
  • if you are not happy with a health and disability service you receive, you have the right to complain

What are my rights when using health and disability services in NZ?

When you use a health or disability service in New Zealand, you have the protection of a Code of Rights. The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights provides 10 rights.

Right 1 - The right to be treated with respect.

Right 2 - The right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation.

Right 3 - The right to dignity and independence.

Right 4 - The right to services of an appropriate standard.

Right 5 - The right to effective communication.

Right 6 - The right to be fully informed.

Right 7 - The right to make an informed choice and give informed consent.

Right 8 - The right to support.

Right 9 - Rights in respect of teaching or research.

Right 10 - The right to complain.

Listen to, or read your rights in different languages at the Health and Disability Commissioner website [1]

You can check the booklet below (PDF, 2MB) [2]. It tells you about your rights and how to make a complaint if you are not happy with a service you receive.

Image of the cover of a booklet about your rights when using health services [2]

See the Health and Disability Commissioner website to find out more about your rights [3]

What can I do if I'm not happy with a health and disability service I receive?

You can contact Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service. An advocate can listen to you and talk with you about your problem with a health or disability service. Advocates can help and support you when you have a problem with a health or disability service. They can support you if you want to talk to the health or disability service about your problem.

Free phone Advocacy: 0800 555 050

Check a set of principles which describe how healthcare providers should meet your child or young person's particular needs [4]

External links and downloads (see the online version for more information at other websites)

Health and Disability Commissioner [5]

You can read the Health and Disability Commissioner Act and Code of Rights and find out more about your rights when using a health or disability service in New Zealand. 

This page last reviewed 11 June 2021.
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Source URL: https://kidshealth.org.nz/health-disability-services-consumers-rights

Links
[1] https://www.hdc.org.nz/your-rights/your-rights-in-different-languages/
[2] https://www.hdc.org.nz/media/2813/you-have-rights-easy-read-version.pdf
[3] https://www.hdc.org.nz/
[4] https://kidshealth.org.nz/introduction-principles-guiding-provision-health-disability-services?language=ton
[5] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1525
[6] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1164