Health care & mental health
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
In British Columbia, you have rights related to both health and mental health care. You have the right to receive the support you need, understand what treatments you’re getting, and give your consent before any treatment. Your personal information must also be kept private, and you have the right not to be discriminated against when receiving care.
Explore the links below to reliable online guides and tools and to organizations in BC. They have been chosen by librarians at Courthouse Libraries BC.
Selected resources
Dial-a-Law: Children and Consent to Health Care
People’s Law School
In BC, a child under age 19 may consent to their own health care, if the child is capable. Learn what this means and other issues of health care consent.
Last reviewed July 2024
Dial-a-Law: Adults and Consent to Health Care
People’s Law School
Generally speaking, adults can only be given health care with their consent. We explain consent, and the exceptions to this general rule, including what happens when someone is mentally incapable.
Last reviewed March 2024
Health Care Consent in BC: Your Rights and the Law
Nidus Registry
This fact sheet is about your rights as an adult (age 19 or older) to give or refuse consent to health care. How is health care defined? What is required for informed consent? How is incapability to consent determined? When is consent not required? Who qualifies as a health care provider?
Last reviewed March 2024
Discrimination in Accessing Health Care
People’s Law School
The law protects you from discrimination when you access health care services. Learn to identify discrimination, and steps to take if you’re discriminated against.
Last reviewed July 2024
Mental Health and Discrimination
People’s Law School
The law helps protect anyone with a mental disability from discrimination. Learn what amounts to discrimination based on a mental disability, and the steps to take if you’re discriminated against.
Last reviewed July 2024
Your Health Information
Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA)
This resource provides basic information about your health information rights. It explains how your health information is used throughout the health system, health information confidentiality rights, the laws relating to health privacy information, who can access your health record, and more.
Last reviewed September 2024