Patient information
The health, safety and privacy of our patients is paramount. Information about our current or former patients is confidential and will not be released to the media or other members of the public without written consent from the patient or his or her substitute decision-maker (often referred to as next-of-kin). This consent is solicited from the hospital’s Public Affairs department.
Patients or his or her substitute decision-maker have the right to refuse to have updates of any kind provided to the media. This includes whether or not a patient has been admitted and his or her current condition. The media should be advised that consent can be withdrawn at anytime by the patient or his or her substitute decision-maker.
If the media wishes to interview and/or photograph, audio tape or video tape one of our patients, written consent must first be obtained from the patient or his or her substitute decision-maker. This consent is solicited by Public Affairs or individuals designated by Public Affairs.
Public Affairs will not provide patient information when doing so violates or appears to violate a law; interferes with a police investigation or the function of a court; is likely to have an adverse affect on the patient in the judgment of a physician or other health-care professional involved in the patient’s care.
Patient condition statements
Public Affairs will not release patient conditions unless written consent has been obtained from the patient or his/her substitute decision-maker. Condition reports can only be provided if the reporter provides the full name and correct spelling of the patient in question.
The hospital is bound by the Personal Health Information Protection Act. As such, a one-word condition update will be provided to the media: good, fair, serious, critical, death or discharged.
Only limited information concerning the nature of injuries can be released if agreed to by the patient or their substitute decision-maker and if the information is readily available.
The reason for hospitalization and course of treatment cannot be released.
What the conditions mean:
- Good: Vital signs are stable. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indications are good to excellent for recovery.
- Fair: Vital signs are within normal limits. Patient is conscious and may be uncomfortable. Patient may have minor complications.
- Serious: Acutely ill with questionable prognosis. Vital signs may be unstable or not within normal limits.
- Critical: The patient's prognosis is questionable. There are major complications and indicators are unfavorable. The term stable is only a description of a patient’s vital signs.
- Death: Since all deaths become public record, they should be reported as soon as possible. However, both the media and hospital have a responsibility to the deceased not to release the name until the next-of-kin has been notified. Next-of-kin only pertains to the deceased person’s immediate surviving relatives.
Description of injuries or occurrences
Only limited information concerning the nature of injuries can be released and includes the following:
- Fractures: If there is a fracture, it is not to be described in any way except to state the limb or area involved.
- Head injury: A simple statement may be made that the injuries are of the head.
- Intoxication: No statements may be made as to whether the patient is (was) intoxicated.
- Organ donation: In Ontario the anonymity of both the donor and the recipient, if desired, is guaranteed by the Trillium Gift of Life Act. No person shall disclose any information or document whereby the identity of the donor or recipient may become known publicly, unless consent is given or such disclosure is legally required. Consent for the release of information regarding a deceased donor, or the cause of death, must be obtained from the next-of-kin or substitute decision-maker.
- Poisoning: No statement may be made concerning the nature of the incident or the injuries
- Shooting or stabbing: The number of wounds and the location may be stated if definitely determined by the physician. No statement may be made as to how the incident occurred.
- Suicide or attempted suicide: No statement will be made about the attempted suicide of a patient. The name of a patient admitted for attempted suicide will not be released.
- Psychiatric patient: No information can be given to the media on the psychiatric condition of a patient.
- Births: Only the parent(s) can authorize announcements of a birth to the media.