13.1 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint a person to be the patient ombudsman. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4. Functions of the patient ombudsman (2) The functions of the patient ombudsman are, (a) to receive and respond to complaints from patients and former patients of a health sector organization and their caregivers, and from any other prescribed persons; (b) to facilitate the resolution of complaints made by patients and former patients of a health sector organization and their caregivers, and by any other prescribed persons; (c) to undertake investigations of complaints made by patients and former patients of a health sector organization and their caregivers, and by any other prescribed persons, and to undertake investigations of health sector organizations on the patient ombudsman’s own initiative; (d) to make recommendations to health sector organizations following the conclusion of investigations; and (e) to do anything else provided for in the regulations. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4. Employee of Agency (3) The Agency shall employ as the patient ombudsman the person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and shall terminate that person’s employment as patient ombudsman when the term of the appointment expires, or if the Lieutenant Governor in Council revokes the person’s appointment. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4; 2019, c. 5, Sched. 3, s. 7 (8). Salary, etc. (4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall fix the salary or other remuneration and the benefits, including rights relating to severance, termination, retirement and superannuation, of the patient ombudsman, and the Agency shall provide the salary or other remuneration and those benefits to the patient ombudsman. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4; 2019, c. 5, Sched. 3, s. 7 (9). Delegation (5) The patient ombudsman may, in writing, delegate any or all of his or her powers to one or more employees of the Agency as he or she considers appropriate, and where the patient ombudsman has done so, the acts of the delegate are deemed to be the acts of the patient ombudsman for the purposes of this Act. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4; 2019, c. 5, Sched. 3, s. 7 (10). Term of office (6) The patient ombudsman shall be appointed for a term of five years and may be reappointed for one further term of five years. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4. Same (7) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may revoke the appointment of the patient ombudsman for cause. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4. Temporary appointment (8) If the position of patient ombudsman is vacant or if for any reason the patient ombudsman is unable or unwilling to fulfil the duties of the office, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint a temporary patient ombudsman for a term of up to six months. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4. Definition (9) In this section and in sections 13.2 to 13.4, “patient or former patient” includes, (a) a patient or former patient of a hospital, (b) a resident or former resident of a long-term care home, (b.1) a person who receives or has received services from an integrated community health services centre, unless the person is subject to an exemption provided for by the regulations, (c) a person who receives or has received services from a health service provider or an Ontario Health Team described in clause (b) of the definition of “health sector organization” in section 1, (c.1) a person who receives or has received services from a local health integration network, but only with respect to matters described in clause (c.1) of the definition of “health sector organization” in section 1, Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, clause (c.1) of the definition of “patient or former patient” in subsection 13.1 (9) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted: (See: 2023, c. 19, Sched. 2, s. 19 (5)) (c.1) a person who receives or has received services from the Service Organization, but only with respect to matters described in clause (c.1) of the definition of “health sector organization” in section 1, (c.2) a person who received services from a local health integration network before the network was amalgamated into the Service Organization, but only with respect to matters described in clause (c.1) of the definition of “health sector organization” as it read at the time the services were provided, (d) any other individual provided for in the regulations, and (e) in respect of an individual mentioned in clause (a), (b), (c), (c.1) or (d) who is or was incapable with respect to a treatment or another matter, a person with the authority to consent to the treatment or the other matter on behalf of that patient or former patient in accordance with the Health Care Consent Act, 1996. 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4; 2016, c. 30, s. 37 (10); 2019, c. 5, Sched. 3, s. 7 (11); 2020, c. 13, Sched. 3, s. 2 (8); 2023, c. 4, Sched. 1, s. 70 (2). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2014, c. 13, Sched. 5, s. 4 - 01/07/2016 2016, c. 30, s. 37 (10)
- 01/05/2017 2019, c. 5, Sched. 3, s. 7 (8-10) - 01/04/2020; 2019, c. 5, Sched. 3, s. 7 (11) - 18/04/2019 2020, c. 13, Sched. 3, s. 2 (8) - 01/05/2022; 2020, c. 13, Sched. 3, s. 2 (9) - no effect - see 2023, c. 19, s. 28
- 04/12/2023 2023, c. 4, Sched. 1, s. 70 (2) - 25/09/2023; 2023, c. 19, Sched. 2, s. 19 (5) - not in force