Patient Rights
Safety and Respect: As a patient of our TC FHT, you have the right to:
- Be treated in a considerate and respectful manner.
- Receive care that respects your values and beliefs.
- Receive care in a safe environment by qualified staff.
- Be told if something unexpected and significant happens in your care and have any resulting changes to your care discussed with you.
Active Participation in Your Care and Treatment: You have the right to:
- Know the names of the people providing you with care.
- Complete, up-to-date information about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms you can understand in order to participate in decisions regarding your care. This includes being told about any known risks and alternatives if any.
- Make choices about your treatment including refusing treatment and be informed of the health risks of your decision.
- Ask for a second opinion about your care and treatment options.
- Receive complete information about any research project in which you are invited to participate, with an option to refuse to participate without it affecting your care. And be protected as a research subject.
Privacy: Subject to some restrictions permitted or required by law, you have the right to:
- Make choices about how your information is collected, used and disclosed by us.
- Expect that all communications and records pertaining to your care be available only to those directly concerned with your care*.
- Access your health record, either to view or receive a copy of it.
- Request changes to your health record if you feel your information is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Know who has accessed your health record.
- Expect that we will keep your information safe from loss, theft and unauthorized access.
- Challenge our compliance with Ontario’s privacy laws (see website, Patient, Patients Policies & Procedures).
*TC FHT operates in a shared model of care and thus TC FHT clinicians consult with one another, on multiple aspects of your care, within the team environment. It is important that patients understand this approach to care as part of TC FHT.
Access to the Complaints Resolution Process: You have a right to:
- Ask questions and express concerns about your care without fear of reprisal – see our Complaints Resolution Process (on our website).
- Be provided with information about our complaints resolution process.
1.01 Complaints Resolution Process (updated)
Patient Responsibilities
By taking an active role in your health care, you can help us meet your needs as a patient. We ask that you (and your family) accept certain responsibilities so we can meet our shared goals.
We ask that you:
- Tell us about concerns you have about the safety and/or quality of your care.
- Take an active role in your own care. You can do this by:
a. Taking sensible precautions to keep healthy.
b. Using the advice and information from your care providers.
c. Asking questions to clarify information.
d. Telling us what is important to you. - Be open and honest with us about your health history and health care needs (including your past and current illnesses, allergies, medications and dosages, and family health history).
- Arrive at appointments promptly or, if they must be canceled or postponed, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible (at least 24 hours in advance).
- Treat TC FHT (administrative) staff and other patients and visitors with consideration and respect.
- Work with the clinicians to build a relationship that is based on trust, honesty, respect and a mutual desire to improve your health outcomes.
- Refrain from discriminatory comments or actions in regards to sexism, racism, ableism, classism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and any other behavior that is derogatory to a marginalized person.
- Be prepared to be seen by other TC FHT staff when your usual provider is not available or be willing to wait until they are available.
- Understand that TC FHT works with many individuals with many levels of need, and staff may need to prioritize their time to deal with emergency or high need situations.
- Understand that TC FHT has limitations in regards to the services we provide.
- Understand that posting comments on social media that harass, bully or defame a staff member is unacceptable and could result in immediate dismissal.
- Understand that we will not tolerate violence, abuse (verbal or physical) or aggressive behavior.