Patients’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

While you are a Hospital patient, you have the right to expect certain things from us. This includes professionalism, respect, high quality care and service, open communication, privacy and much more. In addition to having rights, patients have responsibilities. These include: truthfulness, respect for Baycrest property, complying with Baycrest policies, and cooperating with your Care Team.

Patients’ Rights

Every patient has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect and in a way that fully recognizes the patient’s dignity and individuality, and to be free from mental and physical abuse.
Every patient has the right to be properly sheltered, fed, clothed, groomed and cared for in a matter consistent with his or her needs.
Every patient has the right to be told who is responsible for and who is providing the patient’s direct care.
Every patient has the right to be afforded privacy in treatment and in caring for his or her personal needs.
Every patient has the right to keep in his or her room and display personal possessions, pictures and furnishings in keeping with safety requirements and other patients’ rights.
Every patient has the right

to be informed of his or her medical condition, treatment and proposed course of treatment,
to give or refuse consent to treatment, including medication, in accordance with the law and to be informed of the consequences of giving or refusing consent,
to have the opportunity to participate fully in making any decision and obtaining an independent medical opinion concerning any aspect of his or her care, including any decision concerning his or her admission, discharge or transfer to, from or within Baycrest, and
to have his or her medical records kept confidential in accordance with the law.

Every patient has the right to receive reactivation and assistance towards independence consistent with his or her requirements.
Every patient who is being considered for restraints has the right to be fully informed about the procedures and the consequences of receiving or refusing them.
Every patient has the right to communicate in confidence, to receive visitors of his or her choice and to consult in private with any person without interference.
Every patient whose death is likely to be imminent has the right to have members of the patient’s family present twenty-four hours per day.
Every patient has the right to designate a person to receive information concerning any transfer or emergency hospitalization of the patient, and where a person is so designated, to have that person so informed forthwith.
Every patient has the right to exercise the rights of a citizen and to raise concerns or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others to the patients’ council, Baycrest staff, government officials or any other person inside or outside Baycrest, without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.
Every patient has the right to form friendships, to enjoy relationships and to participate in the patients’ council.
Every patient has the right to meet privately with the person of his or her choice in a room that assures privacy; and when spouses reside in the same facility, they have a right to share a room according to their wishes, if an appropriate room is available.
Every patient has a right to pursue social, cultural, religious and other interests, to develop his or her potential and to be given reasonable provisions by Baycrest to accommodate these pursuits.
Every patient has the right to be informed in writing of any law, rule or policy affecting the operation of Baycrest and of the procedures for initiating complaints.
Every patient has the right to manage his or her own financial affairs where the patient is able to do so, and where the patient’s financial affairs are managed by Baycrest, to receive a quarterly accounting of any transactions undertaken on his or her behalf and to be assured that the patient’s property is managed solely on the patient’s behalf.
Every patient has the right to live in a safe and clean environment.
Every patient has the right to be given access to protected areas outside Baycrest in order to enjoy outdoor activity, unless the physical setting makes this impossible.

Patients also have the right:

To expect all staff to be advised of the above rights and to assume that all staff will respect the above rights;

To expect all staff, upon being hired, and thereafter through inservice training, will have up-to-date knowledge of gerontology and geriatrics as these affect their careers and the patient’s life at Baycrest.

Patients’ Responsibilities

As in all human societies, individuals have not only rights but also obligations and responsibilities to one’s fellow patients and to the management of the facility in which one is receiving care.

Every patient has the responsibility to observe the rules and regulations of Baycrest in effect at the time of admission to any program and as altered from time to time.
Every patient has the responsibility to treat one’s fellow patients and staff with courtesy and consideration, and to bear in mind their rights at all times.
Every patient has the responsibility to observe at all times the no smoking regulations for one’s own protection and that of other patients and staff.
Every pateint has the responsibility to participate always, and with promptness, in fire and disaster drills.
Every patient has the responsibility to use with care all supplies, linens and furnishings, just as if they were one’s own.
Every patient has the responsibility to provide truthful information to the appropriate Baycrest staff and administration concerning all aspects of his or her mental, physical and financial status, and to keep them informed of any change in these.
Every patient has the responsibility to consider that other patients may require more assistance, and more urgently, than oneself. One cannot always be served first.
Every patient has the responsibility to report promptly anything he or she feels needs attention, i.e., safety hazards, security, or anything one feels is not right.
Every patient has the responsibility to give the nurse manager, department head or any of the administrative staff an opportunity to correct a complaint or grievance by speaking to them directly. If one does not get satisfaction within a reasonable time, write or go to an elected officer of the patients’ council or contact the Client Representative to seek assistance with resolution of your concern.
Every patient has the responsibility to leave word, in accordance with Baycrest policy, when leaving the unit. This is for one’s own benefit and safety.
Patients and staff also have the right:
To expect all patients to be advised of the above responsibilities and to assume that all patients will fulfil the above responsibilities.