Most patients enter a healthcare encounter with far less information than they could have — not only about their condition, but about their rights. Understanding what you're entitled to doesn't make you a difficult patient; it makes every appointment more useful and the care you receive more appropriate.
This guide covers the core rights that apply to patients across most jurisdictions, with notes on specific provisions in the UAE where applicable.
The right to information
You have the right to receive clear, complete information about your condition, proposed treatment, alternatives, and potential risks — in language you can understand. If medical jargon is used, you can ask for plain-language explanations. If there is a language barrier, healthcare providers should arrange for interpretation.
This right also extends to your prognosis. You can ask what is expected to happen — and your doctor is obliged to give you an honest, if sometimes uncertain, answer.
Informed consent
No medical procedure can legally be performed without your informed consent — with narrow exceptions for unconscious emergency patients. Informed consent means you have been told what will happen, why it's recommended, what the risks and benefits are, and what the alternatives are.
Consent obtained under pressure, without adequate information, or from a patient who lacks decision-making capacity is not valid. You can withdraw consent at any time.
The right to your medical records
You have the right to access your own medical records. In the UAE, the Federal Law on Health Data and Electronic Medical Records entitles patients to copies of their records. Providers must respond to a written request typically within 30 days. Records may be provided in digital or paper form. Providers may charge a reasonable administrative fee for copying. For a practical walkthrough of how to make that request, see our guide on how to request your medical records.
The right to a second opinion
You can always seek a second opinion on a diagnosis or proposed treatment, and requesting one does not require you to leave your current provider's care. If you want a second opinion, ask your current doctor for a referral letter and copies of all relevant results and reports.
"Seeking a second opinion is not a sign of distrust — it is an appropriate part of shared decision-making for any significant diagnosis."
Dr. Lina Haddad, CMO, Looms
The right to refuse treatment
An adult with decision-making capacity has the right to refuse any medical treatment, including life-sustaining treatment, even if that decision may shorten their life. Healthcare providers are ethically obliged to respect this right, provided they are satisfied the patient is making the decision voluntarily and with full information.
Privacy and confidentiality
Your health information is confidential and cannot be disclosed to third parties — including family members, employers or insurers — without your explicit consent. There are narrow exceptions (serious risk of harm to others, legal requirements), but these are tightly defined. If you believe your confidentiality has been breached, you can complain to the relevant health authority.
The right to complain
- In the UAE: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) complaint mechanism; DHA and HAAD ombudsman services
- Document everything — dates, names, what was said
- Make complaints in writing where possible
- You don't need a lawyer to file an initial complaint