Description of
the right

Hospitals provide gowns in order to:

  • protect your clothes,
  • facilitate care, and
  • reduce the risk of infection during surgery.

You can choose to wear something other than a hospital gown, provided that you:

  • accept the risks that your clothes could be soiled, damaged or cut in an emergency,
  • agree to undress partially for examinations, certain treatments or when pushing the baby out, and
  • avoid clothing that may injure healthcare personnel or interfere with their work (e.g.: wedding dresses, costumes, etc.)

Before refusing care, it’s important to discuss it with the care team so that you can make an informed decision.

Hospital gowns are mandatory for interventions that are carried out in an operating room (e.g.: C-section, curettage).

Several examples of situations

  • You want to give birth wearing your lucky sweater.
  • In labor, you want to wear a closed back garment so you’re comfortable when you’re moving around.
  • After delivery, you want to wear clothes that make you feel comfortable when you have visits.

 

References

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: section 7

Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms: section 1

Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system: sections 8, 12, 13 and 383

Act respecting health and social services for Cree Native persons: sections 4, 5 and 156

Loi sur les services de santé et les services sociaux pour les Inuit et les Naskapis: sections 3, 5, 9 and 10

Civil Code of Quebec: sections 10, 11 and 13

Professional obligation according to many other professional orders (list of professional orders)