What are your rights as a patient?

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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:

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.

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

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

If 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.