When making healthcare decisions for our incapable loved ones, many are likely not keeping in mind the rules pertaining to substitute treatment decisions. Such disregard are partially due to urgent and emotional situations, such as where there is a lack of ventilators due to the COVID-19 crisis. Also, many are not aware of what the substitute healthcare decision rules are.
Ontario has imposed emergency orders under COVID-19, but none of them to date have revised the laws for making substitute decisions.
For a brief outline of the rules, see my article “Substitute Treatment Decisions During the COVID-19 Crisis” on the Ontario Bar Association website.
If you would like to discuss the rules and how they impact your substitute decision-making or a decision that has been made on you, please contact us at 416-320-1914 or contact@pbplawyers.com.