Patients in Canada have the following Legal Rights:
- To receive appropriate and timely care
- To be treated with dignity and respect
- To receive health services without discrimination.
- To have their personal and health information protected from
disclosure
- To have access to their health information unless, in the
opinion of a relevant health professional, the disclosure could
result in immediate and grave harm to the patient’s health or
safety
- To refuse consent to any proposed treatment
- To receive information relating to any proposed treatment and
options
- To the recognition of your Representative or Substitute
Decision-maker
- To the recognition of your Advance Directive
- To a second opinion
- To pain and symptom management
The legal stands If any of these Rights of Patients is Violated
by the Doctor or Health System Or the Healthcare Worker.
The Canada Health Act is the federal legislation that
provides the foundation for the Canadian health care system. The
Act is administered by Health Canada, the federal department with
primary responsibility for maintaining and improving the health of
Canadians.
Current Status of Law in Canada-
- The government guarantees the quality of care through federal
standards.
- The government does not participate in day-to-day care or
collect any information about an individual's health, which remains
confidential between a person and their physician
- Canada's provincially-based Medicare systems are cost-effective
because of their administrative simplicity.
- In each province, each doctor handles the insurance claim
against the provincial insurer.
- The Canada Health Act does not cover prescription
drugs, home care or long-term care or dental care.
- Provinces provide partial coverage for children, those living
in poverty and seniors.