In addition to rights and responsibilities conferred by law e.g. National Consumer Law (NCL), Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australian Privacy Principle (APP), patients have the right to:

• Be treated with respect and consideration.

• Be listened to and understood.

• Receive care without exploitation in a clean and safe environment.

• Receive care without discrimination on the basis of financial status, age, sex, culture, ethnicity, religion, political belief, sexual orientation or health status.

• Receive care that applies current knowledge and clinical procedures and includes all tests that are necessary for their optometric management.

• Know the names of the optometrist and practice staff.

• Expect that testing performed by delegated staff members can and will be interpreted by the optometrist.

• Receive sufficient information, in an understandable form about their condition and the risks, benefits, time course and costs of diagnostic and treatment options to allow them to make informed decisions.

• Grant, withhold or withdraw consent to treatment or the performance of any procedure at any stage during a course of attention.

• Be informed of the possible consequences of discontinuing any examination or treatment.

• Determine who will be permitted to be present at any examination.

• Be referred to another practitioner where another opinion or specialist service is required or requested or where the optometrist is unable to provide the service needed by the patient.

• Receive full disclosure of any financial or other interest the optometrist may have in any institution or service to which the patient is referred.

• Privacy during the course of their care.

• Have information relating to them kept confidential and released to others only with their permission or when the law or the safety of the public requires release.

• Receive a copy of their spectacle prescription and the results of any tests conducted.

• Receive a copy of their contact lens prescription when the optometrist is satisfied that the fitting has been completed.

• Have a copy or summary of their records sent to another practitioner or to themselves upon request.

• Receive an itemised account of fees and charges.

• Complain to the optometrist if they are dissatisfied with services or products provided and have the optometrist endeavour to resolve these complaints.

• Recourse to an independent adjudicator for unresolved complaints.