Patient rights state that patients can have access to health care, make decisions about their treatment, and have their personal health information kept private.
Tips & Links
Patients in Canada have many rights as well as responsibilities. A patient or a client is a person of any age receiving care and guidance from health care professionals in a variety of settings.
Patient Rights in Canada
- Access to insured health care services, without discrimination.
- Ability to accept, refuse, or discontinue treatments at any time.
- Make informed health care decisions, with the support of others, if needed.
- Have your Advance Directive or authority of a Substitute Decision-Maker respected.
- Expect personal health information to be kept private and confidential.
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
- Know your patient rights regarding privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, and the ability to accept or refuse treatments or procedures from Healthlink BC.
- Learn about patient and employee rights in Fraser Health Authority.
- Learn about your rights under the BC’s Mental Health Act.
Learn More
- End-of-life care and rights from Dying with Dignity Canada.
- Mental health and addiction treatment patient bill of rights from the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health in Ontario.
- Privacy laws and your personal health information toolkit from Aide Canada.
- Learn about ‘Patients as Partners’ from the Government of BC.