The right of access to your record
In terms of health, the law gives you certain rights, including the right of access to your record.
Because of the confidential information it contains, only you have access to it, and this, from the age of 14.
Filing a complaint:
constructive action to highlight
a problematic situation
Your medical record is confidential. To consult it, you must apply for it yourself to the establishment concerned, most often to the archives department. It is also possible to give your consent to authorize another person to consult your file.
Without your consent, ideally put in writing, no one can have access to the information contained in your file, except for few exceptions, very well defined by law.
The law provides that you may be refused access to your medical record if it is deemed that certain information could cause you serious harm. This refusal is temporary. A date when the information can be given to you must be fixed.
Finally, the healthcare establishment that allows the patient to consult his record must provide him with assistance in understanding the information entered in his record. Corrections may also be requested if errors are observed.
Examples
Annie notices an error in her medical record
Annie injured her left shoulder a few months ago. She has recently been experiencing back pain and wonders if the two events could be linked. After making a request for access to her record and receiving a copy of the file, she notices that her medical record indicates that she injured her right shoulder. This is a significant factual error. Annie therefore submits a request for rectification (correction) in writing to correct the information.
Leo, a caregiver, tries to get access of his mother's medical record
Leo accompanied his mother as a caregiver for several years. His mother sadly passed away at the hospital a few weeks ago. He asks for a copy of his mother's file. His request is denied
The law provides that the heirs may have access to certain specific information contained in the medical record of a deceased person, under certain conditions. For Leo to have access to all of his mother's record, she would have had to sign an authorization for him when she was still able to do so.
useful links
Prévention suicide:
Ligne d’intervention auprès des personnes suicidaires ou de leurs proches.
SOS Violence conjugale: 1 800 363-9010
Service d’accueil, d’évaluation, d’information, de sensibilisation, de soutien et de référence aux victimes de violence conjugale et leurs proches.
Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec : 1 888 528-7741
Les demandes d’accès au dossier médical ne font pas partie du mandat du CAAP – Laval.
Commission des droits de la personne: 1 800 361-6477
Si vous êtes victime d’exploitation ou si vous croyez qu’un proche en subit.
Le Barreau du Québec
Ligne agression sexuelle: 1 888 933-9007
Ligne d’écoute, d’information et de référence destinée aux victimes d’agression sexuelle et leurs proches.
DIRA Laval: 450 681-8813
Service d’accueil et d’accompagnement pour les personnes de 50 ans et plus victimes d’abus, de violence ou de négligence.
Ligne Aide Abus Aînés: 1 888 489-2287
Ligne d’aide destinée aux aînés qui subissent des abus ou à leurs proches.