PATIENTS’ RIGHTS & ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS:
In accordance with Ontario’s Bill 212-Connecting Care Amendment Act

(Patient Bill of Rights)

A health service provider shall ensure that the following rights of persons receiving care from the health service
provider are fully respected and promoted:

1. A person receiving health service has the right to be dealt with by the health service provider in a courteous
   and respectful manner and to be free from mental, physical and financial abuse by the health service
   provider.
2. A person receiving a health service has the right to be dealt with by the health service provider in a manner
   that respects the person’s dignity and privacy, that promotes the person’s autonomy and that recognizes the
   person as a member of their own care team.
3. A person receiving a health service has the right to be dealt with by the health service provider in a manner
   that recognizes the person’s individuality and that is sensitive to and responds to the person’s needs and
   preferences, including preferences based on ethnic, spiritual, linguistic, familial and cultural factors.
4. A person receiving health service has the right to information about the health services provided to the
   person and to be told who will be providing the health services.
5. A person applying for a health service has the right to participate in the health service provider’s
   assessment of their requirements and a person who is determined to be eligible for a health service has the
   right to participate in the health service provider’s development of the person’s plan of service, the health
   service provider’s review of the person’s requirements and the health service provider’s evaluation and
   revision of the person’s plan of service.
6. A person has the right to give or refuse consent to the provision of any health service.
7. A person who is incapable of making their own decisions with respect to the provision of any health service
   has the right to a substitute decision maker in any health care setting at any time.
8. A person receiving a health service has the right to raise concerns or recommend changes in connection
   with the health service provided to the person, and in connection with policies and decisions that affect
   their interests, to the health service provider, government officials or any other person, without fear of
   interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.
9. A person receiving a health service has the right to be informed of the laws, rules and policies affecting the
   operation of the health service provider and to be informed in writing of the procedures for initiating
   complaints about the health service provider.
10. A person receiving health service has the right to be informed of the persons and organizations that are
    involved in providing them the health service.
11. A person receiving a health service has the right to have their records kept confidential in accordance with
    the law and to know to whom their personal health information has been disclosed.
12. A person receiving a health service has the right to a complete, accessible personal health record that is
    available without delays or unreasonable cost.
13. A person receiving a health service has the right to designate another person as their essential caregiver, to
    have access to that essential caregiver in any health care setting at any time, and to have that essential
    caregiver treated with respect as a valuable contributor to the care team.
14. A person receiving a health service has the right to receive information about any rights they have to appeal
    a decision of the health service provider or file a complaint about the conduct of a health service provider.
15. A person receiving a health service who launches an appeal or complaint described in paragraph 14 has the
    right to continue receiving health services from the health service provider without reprisal for the appeal
    or complaint.