Human rights during pre-hospital emergency care

A person is free to accept or refuse to be transported by ambulance, even if paramedics consider that transportation is necessary. When a person refuses transportation by ambulance, they must sign a refusal of transport form. This releases the paramedics from any legal responsibility regarding the person's health. The person who refused the service does not have to pay anything.

Under certain conditions, a person may be taken to a hospital centre against their will to receive the care required by their state of health. These conditions are set out in the Act respecting the protection of persons whose mental state presents a danger to themselves or others. In this case, the police officers ask the ambulance services to transport the person concerned. A person taken to a hospital centre against their will does not have to pay a fee.

Anyone who believes that their rights have not been respected, who is not satisfied with the ambulance service they received or witnessed a situation that caused concern can express their dissatisfaction or file a complaint about it.

To find out what your rights and resources are, visit the Health and social services network complaint examination system.

For more information on ambulance services in Québec, contact the CISSS or the CIUSSS in your area.

For the Montréal and Laval areas, contact Urgences-santé.