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Consent to Treatment - The Law in Your Life
-... Miss Smith, we went over the details of your surgery.... Did you understand all
the information I gave you?
-Yes, I did.
-Do you agree to this surgery?
Before receiving medical treatment, you have a right to consent to it or refuse it.
For your consent to be valid, it must be free and informed.
Your consent is "free" if you give it voluntarily, without being forced.
So if other people force you to refuse treatment or to consent to it, your consent is not free.
But be careful! A doctor who explains the risks of going without a certain treatment
is not putting pressure on you. The doctor is actually giving you all the information
you need to make an informed decision.
Your consent is informed if you give it knowing the full impact of your decision.
Your doctor must therefore give you medical information about your state of health, and
about the risks and consequence normally associated with the proposed treatment. This information
lets you make an informed decision.
For a refusal of treatment to be valid, it must also be free and informed. The same rules
apply!
Finally, you should know that there are special rules for patients under 18 years old, for
adults who can't make their own decisions, and in emergencies. See our website to learn
more.
So there you go! To learn more about your rights and responsibilities, visit educaloi.qc.ca.