When a terminally ill person opts for hospice care they should be aware of the rights which they have in case of any problems arise in the services being provided to them.
This information on health care being provided to a person by hospice is called "informed consent".
No person can make a decision on the kind of care they require if they are not aware of the options which are available to them.
This makes informed consent a mandatory formality for all health care facilities.
The government has made this a condition to participate in any Medicare program.
The patient and the family members should go through the code of regulations before they register a person for hospice care.
Reading about the laws that govern "informed consent" is a very important part of getting this service.
Only once the patient and their family members are totally aware of these rights should they go in for the hospice care.
The patient as well as the family members should know about the different levels of care as well as the kinds of services which are offered by hospice.
A patient is entitled to home care, care for symptoms which give rise to a crisis, care at a hospice facility which is called inpatient care and nursing care at the patient's home.
During this stage the patient should be kept comfortable and all the symptoms related to the terminal illness have to be taken care of so that the patient should not suffer too much discomfort.
Service of the counselors, care giver, therapists, and dietitians should be made available along with the medication and equipment which is required.
A terminally ill patient who has opted for hospice care can withdraw from it if they hear about any new treatment which has been researched and which might help their condition.
The patient can opt for curative medication and stop the hospice care in such instances.