Difference between revisions of "Understanding the Bill of Rights and Residential Care"

While the Ministry of Health has described this as a “comprehensive list of rights”,  it is important to note these are a codification of certain rights and not the only rights that residents have in residential care facilities. These identified rights are largely educational. The legal scope of the Bill is discussed in Chapter  Five on “Rights, Remedies and Problem Resolution”. Unlike some Canadian jurisdictions, British Columbia’s Residents’ Bill of Rights has not been specifically identified in law as a deemed part of the residential care contract and does not give a separate right of action.  However, that does not mean they are not enforceable.

The Bill of Rights in the Residential Care Regulations is not a comprehensive statement of rights. However it covers four important domains or themes: (a) commitment to care; (b) rights to health, safety and dignity; (c) rights to participation and freedom of expression; and (d) rights to transparency and accountability.