http://www.jcaho.org/standards_frm.html
The new standards from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) say patients have a right to feel no pain. These standards require that healthcare organizations tell you that you have a right to pain relief: Many people do not know they do.
Healthcare organizations that do not provide effective pain relief can lose their accreditation.
Hospitals and surgery centers now cannot discharge you if your pain is intolerable. What's more, they must check on you at home to make sure you are pain-free.
The new JCAHO standards apply to all kinds of pain, including chronic pain and pains from unknown causes.
Every time a healthcare professional takes your pulse, temperature, and blood pressure, you should be asked if you are in pain. If you are, the examiner should ask about what your pain feels like, and how it responds to treatments.