Protection for Persons in Care Act (amended)

BILL NO. 62

(as introduced)

5th Session, 61st General Assembly
Nova Scotia
62 Elizabeth II, 2013

Government Bill

Protection for Persons in Care Act
(amended)

The Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse
Minister of Community Services

First Reading: April 26, 2013

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading: April 29, 2013

Third Reading: May 9, 2013 (WITH COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS) (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)

Explanatory Notes

Clause 1 authorizes the giving of notice in accordance with the Personal Directives Act.

Clause 2 allows the disclosure of personal health information or personal information for the purpose of an investigation.

Clause 3

(a) clarifies the directives the Minister has the authority to issue to the administrator of a health facility following an investigation; and

(b) adds persons authorized under the Personal Directives Act to those entitled to receive notice of an investigation.

Clause 4 requires the Minister to provide a written summary of any matter the Minister refers to a professional body to investigate.

Clause 5 provides that this Act comes into force on proclamation.

An Act to Amend Chapter 33
of the Acts of 2004,
the Protection for Persons in Care Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Subsection 8(4) of Chapter 33 of the Acts of 2004, the Protection for Persons in Care Act, is repealed and the following subsection substituted:

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), where a patient or resident has

(a) a person to whom the patient or resident has given authorization under the Medical Consent Act;

(b) a guardian under the Incompetent Persons Act;

(d) an attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act,

to make decisions on the patient's or resident's behalf, the notice referred to in subsection (3) is to be given instead to the guardian, delegate, statutory decision-maker or attorney, as the case may be, unless the Minister determines it is inappropriate to do so based on the nature of the allegations.

2 Clause 9(2)(b) of Chapter 33 is repealed and the following clause substituted:

(b) produce for examination or copying any record or other thing, including information that is personal health information under the Personal Health Information Act or personal information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or any other enactment that, in the investigator's opinion, relates to the matter being investigated and that may be in that person's possession or control.

3 (1) Subsection 11(1) of Chapter 33 is repealed and the following subsection substituted:

(1) On receiving an investigator's report under Section 9, the Minister may issue any directives to the administrator of the health facility involved requiring operational and other measures that the Minister considers necessary to protect all patients or residents from abuse, regardless of whether the investigation has determined that abuse occurred.

(2) Subsection 11(2) of Chapter 33 is amended by

(a) striking out "directions" in the first line and substituting "directives"; and

(b) striking out "person" in the second and third lines of clause (a) and substituting "delegate, statutory decision-maker".

(3) Subsection 11 (3) of Chapter 33 is amended by striking out "directions" in the second line and substituting "directives".

4 (1) Section 12 of Chapter 33 is amended by adding immediately after subsection (1) the following subsection:

(1A) The Minister's referral under subsection (1) shall include a written summary of the matter being investigated.

(2) Subsection 12(2) is amended by striking out a "report" in the first line and substituting "referral".

5 This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.

This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2013 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created May 14, 2013. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.

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