01Puerto Rico Mental Health Law (Law 408-2000)
Your specific rights as a person receiving mental health services (Article 3.06) include:
Access to services
Receive the services you need.
Not being identified
Not being publicly identified as a mental health patient.
Notice of rights
Having your rights and their limits explained.
Individual plan
A treatment, recovery and rehabilitation plan made for you.
Informed consent
Deciding about your treatment with full information.
Refusing treatment
Refusing a treatment, within what the law provides.
Freedom of communication
Communicating by mail, phone and visits.
Complaints and grievances
Filing complaints and grievances without retaliation.
Research
Not taking part in experimental procedures or research without your consent.
Language
Receiving services in a language you understand.
Support people
Asking for support groups or people to take part.
Least restrictive care
Receiving the least intensive, most autonomous level of care that is suitable.
The law also sets out the responsibilities of people receiving services. Full text (Spanish): Law 408-2000.
02Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities (Law 194-2000)
- Health services of the highest quality.
- True, reliable and sufficient information about professionals, costs and treatment alternatives.
- Continuity of services.
- Emergency services without prior authorisation.
- Taking part in decisions about your treatment, including advance directives.
- Respectful, equal and non-discriminatory treatment.
- Confidentiality of your information, access to your record and receipts for your payments.
- Simple and fair ways to file complaints.
Your responsibilities include giving complete and accurate health information, taking part in and following your treatment plan, paying on time and using the complaint channels. Full text (Spanish): Law 194-2000.
03If you have a complaint
Write to us first at info@cismepr.com or by WhatsApp 787-403-4259: we answer every complaint in writing. You may also go to the agencies on the Laws and regulations page. Filing a complaint will never affect your treatment.
Reviewed October 16, 2026 · Approved October 16, 2026 by Dr. Carlos A. Lado-Cornejo