Your Rights and Responsibilities

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Patient rights and responsibilities

The Ottawa Hospital believes that each person is a unique individual whose nature is physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social, and who is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of circumstances or condition.

According to this philosophy, you—the patient—have the right to:

  • Receive courteous, competent and timely care.
  • Receive complete and current information regarding all aspects of your care in a manner that you understand.
  • Participate in the health-care team in developing a treatment or care plan that addresses your needs.
  • Obtain a second medical opinion.
  • Expect that information gathered concerning your care will be treated in a confidential manner.
  • If you wish, designate a person to represent or support you in making decisions about your treatment or care.
  • Become informed of the names and functions of all members of your health-care team.
  • Be informed of the hospital policies that apply to you.
  • Express your concerns and receive a timely response.
  • Refuse treatments, except in circumstances stipulated by law (for example, for certain communicable diseases) and be informed of any possible medical consequences of such refusal.
  • Be acknowledged in the language of your choice (English or French). The hospital will provide, if possible, the services of an interpreter to ensure that communication with members of the health-care team is possible.
     

As a patient, it is your responsibility to:

  • Provide accurate information about your past illnesses, previous hospitalizations and medications.

  • Be considerate of other patients’ rights and property and ensure that you respect the hospital’s policies, particularly with respect to noise and the smoking policy.

  • Treat those who look after your needs with courtesy and kindness, always understanding that their obligations toward other patients may limit their availability to you.

  • Ask questions about instructions received if these are not clear or cannot be followed.

  • Cooperate fully with hospital and medical staff to ensure the economical use of hospital facilities.

  • Inform your physician or your nurse if you are pregnant or if you suspect you might be pregnant, so that they may consider the possible effect of certain tests or treatments prescribed.

  • Respect the drug and alcohol policy of the hospital which states that bringing or consuming non-prescribed drugs or alcohol in the hospital is strictly forbidden.

  • Respect hospital rules and regulations communicated to you.

  • Arrange settlement of any portion of your account not covered by your health insurance plan before leaving the hospital.

Patient Declaration of Values

In keeping with the Ontario Government’s Excellent Care for All Act (ECFAA), The Ottawa Hospital is pleased to share its Patient Declaration of Values, which was created by patients, for patients.

The Declaration was developed by The Ottawa Hospital’s patient and family advisors and is an essential tool in our commitment to patient-centered care. It puts patients first by clearly stating the expectations within a health-care setting and providing staff with a framework for care that reflects the values that matter most to patients and their families.
 

Three TOH staff members in surgical scrubs stand together in a hospital environment.

Excellent Care

  • Timely and professional treatment.
  • Innovative approaches to meeting my health-care needs.
  • Commitment to research that could improve health outcomes for patients.
A caregiver gently supports and holds the hand of an older adult seated on a couch.

Respectful Care

  • That I, my family and my caregivers will be treated with compassion and respect.
  • That staff, physicians and volunteers will act with honesty, integrity and transparency.
  • That diversity and unique needs will be recognized and treated appropriately in a barrier-free, culturally safe and inclusive environment.
A doctor in a white coat holds a tablet and talks with a smiling patient sitting on an exam table in a bright medical office.

Clear Communication

  • To be informed, educated and responsible for decisions about my care.
  • That my personal health and medical information will be available and kept confidential.
  • That the entire health-care team, which includes me, my family and my care partners, will work together to ensure seamless care.