by Vicki Brown

Created on: February 11, 2010   Last Updated: March 12, 2010

As soon as you put that blue print gown on that shows the world your derriere, you are at the mercy of the hospital staff. You have lost your dignity and privacy has gone along with it. Generally, people in hospitals are there because they are sick or need to have surgery. You are vulnerable in every way.

There is a Patients Bill of Rights that must be posted in doctor's offices and in hospitals. A copy of it is probably included in all the paperwork you accumulate before and during your stay in the hospital.

There is also a thing called manners and courtesy. Hospital personnel are there to care for you and to care about you. Being rude has no place in a hospital. As a patient, you have the right to expect to be treated with kindness.

So, what do you do when a staff member is rude to you? You or your advocate should take the person aside and explain how they had been less than professional. An advocate can be a spouse, a friend, or one of your children. They should be watching carefully what happens. They aren't affected by pain or drugs. They can think clearer and they have your best interest at heart.

Here is an example, I had back surgery and was in great pain. Whatever they were giving me for pain was making me extremely nauseous and giving me a horrible headache. The nurse kept telling me it would get better when the drugs kicked in. My son was with me and he went out to the nurse's station and told them that if I said I was sick and had a headache could they please try to give me something that would help. They brought in a syringe of something. My son asked what it was. They said, "It's codeine." He told her that I was allergic to codeine. That translates into an allergy to morphine and all morphine derivatives.

I was too sick to even know what I needed. My son could speak for me in a way that let the staff know that something had to be done. He cared about me and wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Now when I'm in the hospital or at the ER, my husband always asks what they are giving me. If they say morphine, he says morphine allergy. Which brings up another way to handle staff, know your medical history. Make sure you have a list of all medications you take. This includes vitamins and supplements and OTC drugs. Make a list and give it to your advocate. If you have any drug allergies, make sure everyone knows what they are.

If after you or your advocate has spoken privately with the rude staff member and no apology was forthcoming, it's time

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