Description of
the right

Your consent is necessary before you or your baby can receive care. It is therefore essential that you understand the services being proposed.

You have the right to receive health services in French and English regardless of the healthcare establishment.

The establishment also has an obligation to facilitate access to services in your language if it is not English or French.

 

Services in a language other than French may be limited by the availability of people who can interpret or translate the information. The community must still make efforts to find ways of communicating important information to you (e.g.: calling on a loved one, images, gestures, demonstrations of care, etc.).

Several examples of situations

  • You can ask to be spoken to in English even if you or your baby must receive care in an French-language hospital.
  • You can request the services of an interpreter.

 

 

References

Act respecting social services and health services: sections 1, 2 (par.7), 5, 8, 9 and 15

Charter of the French language: section 2