Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 6000.14
September 26, 2011
Incorporating Change 1, Effective October 3, 2013
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: DoD Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities in the Military Health System
(MHS)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 (Reference (a)), this
Instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6000.14 (Reference (b)) to establish policy, assign
responsibilities, and provide procedures for implementation of the Consumer Bill of Rights and
Responsibilities (commonly referred to as the “Patient’s Bill of Rights”) (Reference (c)).
b. Incorporates and cancels Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
(OASD(HA)) policy 98-010 (Reference (d)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to the OSD, the Military Departments, the Office
of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field
Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (hereinafter referred to
collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. DEFINITIONS. See Glossary.
4. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. MHS patients have explicit rights about information disclosure; choice of providers;
health plans; access to emergency services; participation in treatment decisions; respect and
nondiscrimination; privacy and security of personally identifiable information (PII), complaints,
and appeals; as well as specific responsibilities to participate in their own health decisions.
