(a) Patients shall be treated with respect, consideration, and dignity.     
      (b) Patients shall be provided appropriate privacy.     
      (c) Patient records shall be treated confidentially and, except when authorized by law, patients shall be given the opportunity to approve or refuse their release.     
      (d) Patients shall be provided, to the degree known, appropriate information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to a patient, the information shall be provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.     
      (e) Patients shall be given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their health care, except when such participation is contraindicated for medical reasons.     
      (f) Information shall be available to patients and staff concerning:      
        (1) patient rights, including those specified in subsections (a) - (e) of this section;       
        (2) patient conduct and responsibilities;       
        (3) services available at the ambulatory surgical center (ASC);       
        (4) provisions for after-hours and emergency care;       
        (5) fees for services;       
        (6) payment policies;       
        (7) patient's right to refuse to participate in experimental research; and       
        (8) methods for expressing complaints and suggestions to the ASC.       
      (g) Marketing or advertising regarding the competence and/or capabilities of the organization shall not be misleading to patients.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §135.5 adopted to be effective June 18, 2009, 34 TexReg 3948