Cancer care and your rights

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, it can be helpful to understand your rights and responsibilities when accessing health care in Australia.

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Key questions about your health care rights

Knowing your rights helps you better understand your care. Learn what health care rights are and how they are protected.

Giving informed consent for treatment

Your doctor needs your agreement (informed consent) before giving you medical treatment. Learn about this and informed financial consent.

Protecting your health information

Health professionals gather information about you and your treatment. While receiving care, you have the right to privacy and confidentiality.

Feedback and complaints

You have the right to give feedback or make a complaint about your health care, and to receive a prompt response.

Workplace and financial concerns

Learn about workplace and financial issues that may be relevant to people with cancer.

Rights of carers

Knowing your rights as a carer can help you deal with the treatment team, and make medical and financial decisions.

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Advance care planning

Learn about the importance of discussing your future care preferences with family, friends and your healthcare team.

Support and information

Find sources of support and information, including useful websites.

Questions for your doctorThis checklist may be helpful when thinking about the questions you want to ask.

Do you specialise in treating this type of cancer? If not, could you recommend someone who does?
Do you work in a multidisciplinary team? Who else is in the team?
I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
What are my treatment options? What is the aim of each treatment?
Are there other treatments that you aren’t recommending? Why?
Are there any out-of-pocket costs not covered by Medicare or my private health cover?
Who can I talk to if I have concerns about my care?

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This information was last updated in June 2026. See who reviewed this content.

Elena Schiena, Social Work – Clinical Lead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Tarishi Desai, Manager – Treatment & Supportive Care, McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer, VIC; Sarah Flynn, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Kim Greco, Lung Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Hall & Wilcox Lawyers; Linda Magann, CNC Palliative Care, St George Hospital, NSW; Joanna Page, Consumer; Brian Stace, Consumer; Dr Sabine Wardle, Senior Social Worker, Embrace Care Solutions and Charles Sturt University, NSW.

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