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Patient Rights at CREOQ

Respect for patient rights is at the heart of CREOQ’s mission. As a healthcare facility,we are committed to ensuring that each patient receives respectful, safe care based onprinciples of ethics, confidentiality, and autonomy. We ensure our practices comply withcurrent Canadian standards and legislation, as well as public health authorityrecommendations.

  1. Right to Information:

Every patient has the right to be informed clearly, completely, and comprehensively abouttheir health condition, available treatment options, and associated risks and benefits. Before any intervention, patients must be informed of planned procedures, possiblealternatives, and the need for informed consent. This right is enshrined in the Patient Health and Safety Act of Canadian provinces and respects theprinciples of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  • Informed Consent: In accordance with the Health Care Act (Canada),patients must provide free and informed consent before any medical intervention.This consent is based on a clear explanation of procedures, risks, benefits, andpossible alternatives.
  • Information Accessibility: Information must be provided in formatsadapted to patient needs, considering language, comprehension level, and anyspecial situations such as hearing or visual impairment.
  1. Right to Confidentiality and Privacy Protection

Privacy respect and medical information confidentiality are essential in healthcare. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and provincial laws such as the Access to Information and Privacy Protection Act (in Quebec and other provinces) ensure that allpatient health information is protected and cannot be disclosed without explicit consent,except in exceptional situations defined by law.

  • Medical Records Protection: Patients have the right to accesstheir medical records and request copies, according to legal provisions.
  • Information Disclosure Consent: Any disclosure of personal informationmust be previously authorized by the patient, except where required by law(e.g., public health situations).
  1. Right to Safety and Quality Care

Patients have the right to care that meets the highest safety and quality standards.This includes measures to prevent hospital-acquired infections, pain management,and risk management. The Medical Code of Ethics and Canadian Surgeons Association guidelines define practice standards and care safety expectations.

  • Safety Measures: The center implements safety protocols to preventmedical errors, hospital-acquired infections, and ensure a safe care environment.
  • Pain Management: We are committed to providing optimal postoperativepain management, using the latest guidelines for multimodal pain management.
  1. Right to Autonomy and Participation

Patients have the right to actively participate in decision-making regarding theirtreatment. This right is anchored in respect for patient autonomy and is supported bythe World Health Organization’s Declaration on Patient Rights and theCanadian Medical Code of Ethics principles.

  • Shared Decision-Making: The center encourages shared decision-making,where patients are fully informed and involved in treatment and care choices. They arealso free to refuse or discontinue proposed treatments, provided this does not endangertheir life or others’ safety.
  • Respect for Values and Beliefs: Medical staff must respect patients’cultural, religious, and personal values in the decision-making process.
  1. Right to Equitable Care Access

All patients, regardless of social, ethnic, economic, or geographic status, have theright to equitable healthcare access in our center. This right is protected by equalityand non-discrimination principles enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and provincial health laws.

  • Service Accessibility: Services must be provided equitably, withoutdiscrimination based on origin, socio-economic status, religion, or any othercharacteristic.
  • Special Needs Consideration: Specific measures are implemented toensure accessibility for patients with special needs (e.g., interpreter services forpatients not speaking the official language).
  1. Right to Recourse and Complaint:

Patients have the right to file complaints if they believe their rights have beenviolated or care quality is insufficient. A transparent and accessible complaintmechanism is implemented to ensure patient concerns are heard and fairly addressed.

  • Complaint Procedure: Patients can express concerns directly to centeradministration or through a formal process provided by provincial health laws.
  • Complaint Follow-up: Once filed, complaints are reviewed by anindependent committee to ensure impartiality and provide appropriate solutions.

Conclusion:

Respecting patient rights in an ambulatory surgery center is essential for providingquality, safe, and respectful care. As a center, we are committed to respecting theserights through transparency, confidentiality, accessibility, and patient autonomy. Bypromoting a patient-centered approach, we aim to continuously improve care experienceand safety.

References

  1. Patient Health and Safety Act (Canada)
  2. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Government of Canada
  3. Medical Code of Ethics (Canadian Medical Association)
  4. Access to Information and Privacy Protection Act (Quebec)
  5. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Government of Canada
  6. Canadian Surgeons Association. (2020). Ambulatory Surgery Care Safety Guidelines
  7. World Health Organization Declaration on Patient Rights (WHO)