Designate representative or confidant
What is a confidant?
As a patient, you can designate a confidant to assist you in obtaining information about your health condition. If you wish, this confidant may inspect your patient file or request a copy. The confidant may not make decisions about your illness and treatment on your behalf. A confidant can be anyone: a family member, a neighbour, a close friend, another doctor.
What is a legal representative?
It is also possible to appoint a legal representative. This representative will exercise the patient's rights on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so yourself. So your representative can make decisions about your health and treatment (e.g., if you end up in a coma). If you do not appoint a representative, and you are no longer able to exercise your rights, then in substitute order your spouse/partner, your adult children, your parents, or your adult sibling will act as your representative.
How do I appoint a trustee or representative?
You can use the documents below to appoint a trustee or representative.
You can provide these completed documents to our ombudsperson. Our ombudsperson will arrange further adjustment in the electronic patient record.