Family rights and responsibilities
Staff are committed to family-centred care and to supporting the rights and responsibilities of patients and families. While you and your child are at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), you have the right:
- to the most appropriate, planned, and coordinated care that can be provided;
- to be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy;
- to receive care that supports your emotional, educational, and developmental needs;
- to receive all information necessary to make informed choices;
- to be told the names of the health care providers involved in your care;
- to receive clear answers to your questions and full explanations about all aspects of care;
- to confidentiality;
- to receive care in a culturally sensitive environment;
- to have access to information in the health record;
- to consider thoughtfully, on request, participation in research because of its contribution to the provision of health care;
- to be informed, in a timely fashion, of all expenses not covered by OHIP that will be incurred by your child's health care at the hospital.
While you and your child are at SickKids, you have the responsibility:
- to comfort and support the patient to the extent other responsibilities allow, in the special way that only families can provide;
- to join with the health-care team to ensure the best possible treatment, rehabilitation and discharge planning;
- to provide accurate information and to be available to the health-care team either personally or by telephone;
- to voice any concerns regarding your child's care to the health-care team or to the patient representative;
- to inform hospital staff if you do not understand or cannot follow the health-care instructions;
- to recognize that the needs of other patients and families may sometimes be more urgent than your needs;
- to treat staff and other families in a considerate, courteous and cooperative manner;
- to understand SickKids role as a teaching and research and to cooperate with health-care professionals in training;
- to take care of your personal property and valuables and to respect the hospital property and regulations;
- to arrange payment for all expenses not covered by OHIP during your child's care.