Health: the person you trust

Verified 20 July 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

You're an adult

You can designate a trusted person at all times.

The same is true if you are under a trusteeship.

The trusted person may carry out the following tasks:

  • Accompany you in your medical procedures and assist you during your medical appointments with your consent
  • To help you make decisions about your health and to help collect your consent (for example, during a vaccination campaign).

In the event that your state of health no longer allows you to give your opinion or to share your decisions, the doctor (or the medical team) consults first with the trusted person who must be able to account for your wishes.

The advance directives may also be entrusted to it.

Please note

the trusted person should not be confused with the person to be warned, who is alerted by telephone if your health condition worsens.

You can make that designation at any time.

If you are hospitalized, the health facility will offer you the appointment of a trusted person. This designation is valid for the duration of the hospitalization, unless you wish otherwise.

This designation is made in writingduring your admission or during your hospitalization, on forms which will be given to you for this purpose. This designation may also be made on free paper.

FYI  

The document making that designation shall be incorporated, in particular, within the My health space.

Anyone in your life (parent, close relative, attending physician) whom you trust and who agrees to play this role can be designated trusted person. It doesn't have to be someone from your family.

Yes, the designation of the trusted person is reviewable and revocable at any time.

You're under guardianship

If you are under guardianship, you can only designate a trusted personwith permission of the judge or family council if it has been set up.

If the person of trust was appointed before the guardianship measure was put in place, the family council or the judge may confirm the appointment of that person or cancel it.

Please note

The trusted person should not be confused with the person to be warned, who is alerted by telephone if your health condition worsens.

The trusted person may carry out the following tasks:

  • Accompany you in your medical procedures and assist you during your medical appointments with your consent
  • To help you make decisions about your health and to help collect your consent (for example, during a vaccination campaign).

In the event that your state of health no longer allows you to give your opinion or to share your decisions, the doctor (or the medical team) consults first with the trusted person who must be able to account for your wishes.

The advance directives may also be entrusted to it.

You can make that designation at any time.

However, such designation shall require the authorization of the judge or the family council if it has been set up.

If you are hospitalized, the health facility will offer you the appointment of a trusted person. This designation is valid for the duration of the hospitalization, unless you wish otherwise.

This designation is made in writingduring your admission or during your hospitalization, on forms which will be given to you for this purpose. This designation may also be made on free paper.

However, such designation shall require the authorization of the judge or the family council if it has been set up.

FYI  

The document making that designation shall be incorporated, in particular, within the My health space.

Anyone in your life (parent, close relative, attending physician) whom you trust and who agrees to play this role can be designated trusted person. It doesn't have to be someone from your family.

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