Dear spark72,
According to the Canadian Healthcare Association, no Ntional patient
charter of rights exists. In addition, the province of British
Columbia has no official accord defining specific patient rights.
However some national organizations have done work in this area, such
as the Consumer's Association of Canada (http://www.consumer.ca)
Even though Canada has not officially defined a Patient Bill of rights
concerning proper medical care, certain legal precedent has
established that the facility (or doctor’s office) itself also has a
responsibility to the patient. Hence, a patient does have some legal
rights in terms of proper medical care when visiting their physician.
The Canadian surgical center has stated that it is in the recognition
of these factors that these rights are affirmed, and as such, it has
listed the following as the rights of a patient:
1.The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.
2.The patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician complete
current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and
prognosis in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to
understand.
When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the
patient, the information should be made available to an appropriate
person on his/her behalf.
He/she has the right to know, by name, the physician responsible for
coordinating his/her care.
3.The patient has the right to receive from his/her physician
information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of
any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such
information for informed consent should include but not necessarily be
limited to the specific procedure and/or treatment, the medically
significant risk involved, and the probable duration of
incapacitation. Where medically significant alternatives for care or
treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning
medical alternative, the patient has the right to know the name of the
person responsible for the procedures and/or treatment.
4.The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent
permitted by law and to be informed by the physician responsible the
medical consequences of his/her action.
5.The patient has the right to every consideration of his/her privacy
concerning his/her medical care program; case discussion,
consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should
be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his/her care
must have the permission of the patient to be present.
6.The patient has the right to expect that all communications and
records pertaining to his/her care should be treated as confidential.
7.The patient has the right to expect that within its capacity, this
accredited ambulatory surgery facility must provide evaluation,
service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When
medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another
facility only after he/she has received complete information and
explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a
transfer. The institution to which the patient is transferred must
first have accepted the patient for transfer.
8.The patient has the right to obtain information as to any
relationship of this facility to other health care and educational
institutions insofar as his/her care is concerned. The patient has the
right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional
relationships among individuals, by name who are treating him/her.
9.The patient has the right to be advised if this accredited
ambulatory surgery facility proposes to engage in or perform any human
experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient has
the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
10.The patient has the right to expect a reasonable continuity of
care. He/she has the right to know in advance what appointment times
and physicians are available and where.
The patient has the right to expect that this facility will provide a
mechanism whereby he/she is informed by his/her physician of
continuing healthcare requirements following discharge.
11.The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of
his/her bill regardless of the source of payment.
12.The patient has the right to know what facility rules and
regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient
The Patient Bill Of Rights, False Creek Surgical Center (Canada),
http://www.nationalsurgery.com/files/billofrights.html
If you are concerned that your rights as a patient have been infringed
upon, or if you would like to make a complaint in B.C: guidelines and
protocols are developed under the direction of the Guidelines and
Protocols Advisory Committee (GPAC), jointly sponsored by the B.C.
Medical Association and the Ministry of Health Services. You can
direct specific questions and complaints regarding patient rights in
the Province to the following address:
Utilization Management Branch
Ministry of Health Services
1-2, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC V8W 3C8
Tel: 250 952-1347
Fax: 250 952-1417
E-mail: hlth.guidelines@gems6.gov.bc.ca
Clinical Practice Guidelines and Protocols in British Columbia
Advisory Committee
http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/protoguides
You may find the following links useful:
Patient Resources in British Columbia
http://www.medi-kel.com/Resource.htm
The Canadian Healthcare Association
On Patient Safety and Quality Care
http://www.canadian-healthcare.org/patient_safety.htm
What Are my Rights as a Patient?
http://www.nahc.org/Consumer/wamraap.html
How to communicate with your Physician or Doctor:
http://www.cwhn.ca/resources/faq/howtocomm.html
Links to Canadian Patient's guides
http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/me/patientsguide/links.htm
Search Strategy:
Patient rights+Canada
Physician+office+patient rights
Patient rights+Canada+british Columbia
British Columbia+patient rights
Bill of Patient’s rights+Canada
Rights of patient+B.C.+healthcare
If necessary, please feel free to request a clarification for this
answer.
Hope this helps!
sabrina_j6-ga |
