Understanding Your Rights as a Patient

Many survivors walk into medical appointments not knowing what they are entitled to ask for — or feeling like they do not have the right to say no. You do. These rights are not privileges you have to earn or justify. They are yours, always.

1. The right to informed consent

No healthcare professional can examine or treat you without your consent. This is not just best practice — it is the law. Consent means:

• You must be told what the examination or procedure involves, in language you understand.
• You must be told about any risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• You must give your consent voluntarily — not because you feel pressured or rushed.
• You can withdraw your consent at any point, even after an examination has started. Even mid-procedure.

2. The right to a chaperone

You have the right to request a chaperone — a trained staff member who sits in during any intimate examination. They are there to support you and to witness that everything is conducted appropriately.

• You can ask for a chaperone at any time — before or during an appointment.
• If a chaperone is not immediately available, you can reschedule the examination. Do not feel pressured to proceed without one.
• A chaperone can be any gender you prefer. Ask for what makes you most comfortable.
• The clinician should also offer you a chaperone for intimate examinations. If they do not, you can still ask.

3. The right to stop at any time

This is one of the most important rights, and one that survivors often find hardest to exercise: you can say stop, at any moment, for any reason.

• You do not need to explain why. A simple 'I need to stop' is enough.
• You can ask for a break and resume when you are ready. Or you can end the examination completely and reschedule.
• You are not being difficult. You are not being a bad patient. You are protecting your wellbeing, and that is exactly what you should be doing.

4. The right to request specific accommodations

You can ask for adjustments to make your appointment feel safer. These are reasonable requests that most clinics can accommodate:

• A longer appointment slot so you do not feel rushed.
• A clinician of a specific gender.
• The door left open or ajar during an examination.
• A specific position for examinations that feels less vulnerable.
• A translator or communication support if English is not your first language.
• A phone or video appointment instead of an in-person visit, where clinically appropriate.
• Your support person present in the room throughout.

5. The right to your medical records

Your medical records belong to you. You have the legal right to:

• Request access to your full medical records at any time.
• Ask for errors to be corrected.
• Know who has accessed your records and why.
• Request that certain information is not shared with other providers, though clinicians may need to share information in some circumstances for safety reasons.

6. The right to make a complaint

If something goes wrong, you have the right to speak up. This can feel daunting — especially if the experience has left you feeling triggered or distressed — but it is your right, and there are people who can support you through it.

• In the NHS, you can complain directly to the service provider or to the commissioning body.
• The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers free, confidential advice and support.
• You can bring someone with you to help you through the complaints process.
• Making a complaint does not affect your right to receive care. You cannot be penalised for speaking up.