Manitoba
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Manitoba Health

InfoHealth Guide to health services in Manitoba

What are your rights as a patient?


What are your rights as a patient?In Manitoba, you have the right to make decisions about your own health. If you aren’t satisfied with the care you or someone you care about receives, you have the right to take action. The first step is talking with your caregiver or supervisor. If that doesn’t resolve your concerns, you have other options.

Many hospitals, personal care homes and regional health authorities have someone you can contact directly with complaints. If your complaint is not handled by the facility or the regional health authority representative, you can appeal to senior managers of the regional health authority.

If you have concerns about coverage for medical services, contact Manitoba Health Client Services 786-7101 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-800-392-1207. If you have concerns about Pharmacare, contact 786-7141 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-800-297-8099.
 

Informed consent

Before you undergo care or treatment, you have the right to give your consent – or refuse the treatment. Parents or guardians have the right to give consent for their children. The person asking for your consent must give you all the information the average person in your circumstances would want to have before deciding. You should only give your consent voluntarily, without feeling pressured.
 

Personal health information

You have the right to access your personal health information, to keep it private and to correct any errors it contains. To find out more, call Manitoba Health at 788-6612 or outside Winnipeg toll-free 1-800-392-1207, or visit the Manitoba Health website:

More info Personal Health Information Act
 

Directing your health care decisions

You have the right to decide in advance what kind of care you do and do not want to receive, should you become unable to speak for yourself. It’s important to tell your doctor or health professional who you want to make these decisions for you. You should also write a health care directive or living will to speak for you. For a directive/living will form, phone the Senior’s Information Line at 945-6565 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-800-665-6565.

more info Living Will (a.k.a. Health Care Directive)
 

Protection for persons in care

If you have concerns that you or someone else in a personal care home, hospital or other designated health facility may be subject to physical, sexual, mental, emotional or financial mistreatment, you have a responsibility to report the situation to the Protection for Persons in Care Office.

Phone: 788-6366 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-866-440-6366
TTY/TDD: 774-8618 in Winnipeg or
Manitoba Relay Services toll-free 1-800-855-0511
Fax: 204-755-8055
E-mail: Protection@gov.mb.ca

more info Protection for Persons in Care
 

Confidential health care fraud line

The public, health care staff and health care practitioners who have information about possible fraud or cheating in the health care system can report it confidentially at 786-7118 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-866-778-7730.
 

Further appeals

further appealsIf you are not satisfied with a health decision:

The Manitoba Health Appeal Board (includes home care appeals)
Phone: 788-6704 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-866-744-3257

The Mental Health Review Board
Phone: 204-788-6709 (call collect)

If you have a case of discrimination:
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Phone: 945-3007 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-888-884-8681
TTY: 204-945-3442

If you believe a law has been broken related to your care, you can write to:
The Manitoba Ombudsman
750-500 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 3X1

You can also phone the Ombudsman's office at 982-9130 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-800-665-0531. Or you can visit their website at www.ombudsman.mb.ca or send an e-mail to: ombudsma@ombudsman.mb.ca

Manitoba’s health professions each have a governing body under the law that deals with concerns about the conduct of their members.

For concerns about Contact Phone Number
Audiologists and Speech Pathologists Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association 204-453-4539
Chiropractors Manitoba Chiropractors’ Association 204-942-3000
Dentists Manitoba Dental Association 204-988-5300
Denturists Denturist Association of Manitoba 204-897-1087
Dietitians College of Dietitians of Manitoba 204-694-0532
Doctors College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba 204-774-4344
Licensed Practical Nurses College of Licensed Practical Nurses 204-663-1212
Midwives College of Midwives of Manitoba 204-783-4520
Occupational Therapists College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba 204-957-1214
Opticians The Opticians of Manitoba 204-982-6060
Optometrists Manitoba Association of Optometrists 204-943-9811
Pharmacists The Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association 204-233-1411
Physiotherapists College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba 204-287-8502
Podiatrists College of Podiatrists of Manitoba 204-942-3256
Psychiatric Nurses College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba 204-888-4841
Psychologists Psychological Association of Manitoba 204-487-0784
Registered or Extended Practice Nurses College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba 204-774-3477
Respiratory Therapists Manitoba Association of Registered Respiratory Therapists 204-944-8081