Outstanding care, always.

Patient Information

The health, safety and privacy of our patients is essential. 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/signed consent from the patient or his/her substitute decision-maker. If the media wishes to interview one of our patients and/or photograph, audiotape, videotape or film a patient, written/signed patient consent must first be obtained by Public Affairs or individuals designated by Public Affairs. The media should be advised that consent can be withdrawn at anytime by the patient or substitute decision-maker. 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 judgement of a physician or other health-care professional involved in the patient’s care.

Patient Consent Form

Patient condition statements

Public Affairs will not release patient conditions unless written/signed consent has been obtained from the patient or his/her substitute decision-maker. A one-word condition update will be provided to the media: good, fair, serious, critical, death or discharged.

What 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.

When notification of next-of-kin has been confirmed, the following information will be released: patient’s name, address, sex, age, funeral home and names of parents in the case of a minor.

Although the name must be withheld pending notification of next-of-kin, general information on a public record death may be released immediately. Any information as to the circumstances surrounding a DOA (dead-on-arrival) or any indication of cause of death must come from the police.

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 abe 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