As a patient or health care consumer in Ontario, you have both rights and responsibilities. Your rights are set out in laws such as the Health Care Consent Act, the Long-Term Care Act and the Mental Health Act.

RIGHTS

In general, health care consumers have a right to:

• Receive safe and proper care.
• Have health problems and treatments explained clearly.
• Participate in health care decisions.
• Ask questions and express concerns.
• Request a second opinion.
• Be assured that personal information is confidential.

If a health care professional violates these rights, patients can register acomplaint with the appropriate regulatory organization. For example, patients can use the formal complaints process of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to report professional misconduct by a doctor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

You have an important role to play in your own health care. You can call these responsibilities, but they are not set out in any law.

• Choose an appropriate health care provider.
• Use health care resources responsibly.
• Maintain an accurate history of personal medical information.
• Participate in health care decisions.
• Follow instructions for medication and other treatments.
• Report concerns about health care professionals to regulatory organizations.
• Respect the rights of others seeking health care.
• Make healthy choices about lifestyle and habits.

It is important to note that even if you do not do these things, you are still entitled to all of the patient rights that are set out in Ontario laws.