Users rights

• The right to be informed of existing services and how to obtain them.
• The right to always receive services that are humane, scientifically and socially sound, and provided in a safe and personalized manner.
• The right to receive services from the professional or institution of your choice.
• The right to receive emergency care.
• The right to be informed about the state of your health, and  the available treatment options, and their potential outcomes before consenting to treatment.
• The right to be informed as promptly as possible of any mishap that occurred while you were being treated.
• The right to be treated at all times with courtesy, fairness, and with respect for your dignity, autonomy and safety.
• The right to freely accept or refuse treatments, either on your own or through an intermediary.
• The right to access your file, which is confidential.
• The right to participate in decisions that concern you.
• The right to be accompanied by the person of your choice when requesting information about services.
• The right to file a complaint without risk of reprisals, to be informed of the complaint review procedure, and to be accompanied or assisted throughout the procedure, if needed.
• The right to be represented and to have your rights recognized in the case of temporary or permanent inability to give consent.
• For Anglophones, the right to receive services in English, in accordance with the government’s access program.

Who can file a complaint?
Patients, clients, their representatives, or heirs can file a verbal or written complaint, and may do so by telephone, by post, or in person.

Why file a complaint?
Filing a complaint is a constructive approach to ensuring that a patient or client’s rights are respected. By doing so, you can contribute to improving the quality of health and social services.

To whom should you address a complaint? 
Are you unsatisfied by care or services you received? Or do you feel your rights were not respected? It is the role of the Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner to review your complaint and to ensure your rights are respected. However, we encourage you to begin by speaking with those responsible for the care and services in question.

The Role of the Complaints and Service Quality Commissioner

The local service quality and complaints commissioner is appointed by and has to report to the board of directors.

• He applies the complaint examination process.
• He is answerable to the board of directors for the enforcement of users’ rights, for their satisfaction and for the diligent handling of their complaints.
• He has to promote the complaint examination process and the code of ethics.
• He acts on his own initiative when apprised of the facts and when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the rights of a user or a group of users are not being enforced.
• The commissioner takes the necessary steps to ensure that the information required for the formulation and handling of a complaint is provided to the users and the staff.
• He recommends any measure to improve the handling of complaints, including a review of the procedure.

1. The Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner receives your complaint. He can help you formulate your complaint or ensure that you get the assistance you need.
2. He examines your complaint to clearly identify the problem and try to solve it. At this point he asks you for your version of the facts.
3. He then gathers information from the other parties involved.
4. He intervenes without delay, and in the manner he feels most appropriate, if informed that someone who has made or intends to make a complaint is subjected to any kind reprisal.
5. He informs you of the results within 45 days of receiving your complaint. Along with his findings, he proposes solutions to resolve the situation or other recommendations made to management, if appropriate.

Your complaint is handled in confidence.

You have several options:

• Contact the Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner access point closest to the installation where you were served.
• Your local Centre d’assistance et d’accompagnement aux plaintes (CAAP, or Complaint Assistance and Support Centre) can help you. CAAP is a regional community organization mandated by the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. Their services are free and confidential. For more information about CAAP in your area, call the following toll-free number: 1 877 767-2227.
• The Users and Residents Committee of your local health installation can help you. All institutions are required to have a Users and Residents Committee. The Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner can provide you with the Committee’s telephone number.
• Any person you choose can accompany or assist you in this process.

• You have the right to talk about your concerns with a staff member of your choice (educator, worker, etc.). All staff members are there to help!
• You have the right to discuss a specific problem situation with the head of the department or unit. They can help you!
• You have the right to contact the Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner, in complete confidentiality:
  • To request information on your rights and remedies available to you;
  • To report a problematic issue;
  • To file a complaint.

We are there for you!

Don’t hesitate to contact us. Under no circumstances will you be subjected to reprisals.

Consult the annual reports

Consult the complaint examination system pamphlet (Printable PDF file).

Complaint Review Form (Printable PDF file)
Complaint Review Form (Printable Word file)

Access Points for the Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner: Map of the MWI IUHSSC territory.