Mental Health Law, Patient Advocacy

Updated January 2024

OPA Letter-Writing Campaign

Advocate legislative change to allow earlier access to care for your loved ones with severe mental illness

Current mental health laws impede early access to psychiatric treatment, leading to worse health outcomes for incapable persons with severe mental illness who are denied rights to health. The OPA calls for legislative change to better meet the needs of Ontarians with severe mental illness and the families supporting them.
The Ontario Psychiatric Association proposes 3 reforms to Ontario mental health law:

Permit Treatment Pending Appeal under the Health Care Consent Act
Remove past response to treatment from Form 3 Box B Involuntary Admission Criteria, under the Mental Health Act
Extend a first involuntary admission to up to 30 days, under a Form 3

Read the OPA's detailed Mental Health Law Reform Proposals and engage on social media

MENTAL HEALTH LAW	PATIENT SAFETY AND RIGHTS
See Resources +/- Ontario Hospital Association Practice Guide to Mental Health & Law in Ontario Steps to Justice - Your Guide to Law in Ontario Ministry of Transportation - Medical Condition Reporting Mental Health Act Health Care Consent Act Personal Health Information Protection Act MAiD Medical Assistance in Dying - Ontario Ministry of Health	See Resources +/- CPSO College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Concerns or complaints about physician care, professionalism, inappropriate conduct, or abuse Ontario Patient Ombudsman Complaints about experiences with public hospitals, long-term care homes, and home and community care support service organizations PPAO Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office rights advice regarding legal status (e.g. involuntary patient, incapacity for consent, incapacity for managing property or finances; incapacity for consent regarding disclosure of personal health information; CTO - Community Treatment Orders) patient advocacy services to navigate hospitals and agencies OPGT Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee mental capacity, guardianship, power of attorney, Office of the Children’s Lawyer Consent & Capacity Board applying for a review, board hearings

MENTAL HEALTH LAW

PATIENT SAFETY AND RIGHTS

See Resources

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See Resources

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CPSO College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
- Concerns or complaints about physician care, professionalism, inappropriate conduct, or abuse
Ontario Patient Ombudsman
- Complaints about experiences with public hospitals, long-term care homes, and home and community care support service organizations
PPAO Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office
- rights advice regarding legal status (e.g. involuntary patient, incapacity for consent, incapacity for managing property or finances; incapacity for consent regarding disclosure of personal health information; CTO - Community Treatment Orders)
- patient advocacy services to navigate hospitals and agencies
OPGT Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
- mental capacity, guardianship, power of attorney, Office of the Children’s Lawyer
Consent & Capacity Board
- applying for a review, board hearings

This is not a comprehensive list of resources. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by the OPA. The OPA is not responsible for accuracy of information or quality of services provided.

The Ontario Psychiatric Association cannot comment or advise on matters relating to clinical care (e.g. referrals, patient care, diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization). The OPA is not involved in individual cases of clinical care or legal advocacy. The OPA is not a disciplinary or regulatory body, and does not investigate complaints about physicians.

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