2. (1) The fundamental principle to be applied in the interpretation of this Act, the regulations and a service agreement between the Crown in right of Ontario and a Licensee is that a Nursing Home is primarily the home of its residents and as such it is to be operated in such a way that the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of each its residents are adequately met and that its residents are given the opportunity to contribute, in accordance with their ability, to the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of others.

2. (2) Every license shall ensure that the following rights of residents are fully respected and promoted:
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1. Every resident has the right
To be treated with courtesy and respect and in a way that fully recognizes the resident’s dignity and individuality and to be free from mental and physical abuse.

2. Every resident has the right
To be properly sheltered, fed, clothed, groomed and cared for in a manner consistent with his or her needs.

3. Every resident has the right
To be told who is responsible for and who is providing the resident’s direct care.

4. Every resident has the right
To be afforded privacy treatment and in caring for his or her personal needs.

5. Every resident has the right
To keep in his or room and display personal possessions, pictures and furnishings in keeping with safety requirements and other residents’ rights.

6. Every resident has the right
a) To be informed of his or medical condition, treatment and proposed course of treatment,
b) To give or refuse consent to treatment, including medication, in accordance with
the law and to be informed of the consequences of giving or refusing consent,
c) To have the opportunity to participate fully in making any decision and obtaining
an independent medical opinion concerning any aspects of his or her care, including any decision concerning his/her admission, discharge or transfer to or from a nursing home, and
d) To have his/her medical records kept confidential in accordance with the law.

7. Every resident has the right
To receive reactivation and assistance toward independence consistent with his/her requirements.

8. Every resident
Who is being considered for restraints has the right to be fully informed about the procedures and the consequences of receiving or refusing them.

9. Every resident has the right
To communicate in confidence, to receive visitors of his or her choice and to consult with any person without interference.

10. Every resident has the right
Whose death is likely to be imminent has the right to have members of the right to have members of the resident’s family present twenty-four hours per day.

11. Every resident has the right
To designate a person to receive information concerning any transfer or emergency hospitalization of the resident and where a person is so designated to have that person so informed forthwith.

12. Every resident has the right
To exercise the rights of a citizen and to raise concerns or recommended changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others person inside or outside the nursing home, without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.

13. Every resident has the right
To form friendships, to enjoy relationships and to participate in the residents’ council.

14. Every resident has the right
To meet privately with his/her spouse in a room that assures privacy and where both spouses are residents in the same nursing home, they have a right to share a room according to their wishes, if an appropriate room is available.

15. Every resident has the right
To pursue social, cultural, religious and other interests, to develop his/her potential and to be given reasonable provisions by the nursing home to accommodate these pursuits.

16. Every resident has the right
To be informed in writing of any law, rule or policy affecting the operation of the nursing home and of the procedures for initiating complaints.

17. Every resident has the right
To manage his/her own financial affairs where the residents is able to do so, and where the resident’s financial affairs are managed by the nursing home, to receive a quarterly accounting of any transactions undertaken on his or her behalf and to be assured that the resident’s property is managed solely on the residents behalf.

18. Every resident has the right
To live in a safe and clean environment.

19. Every resident has the right
To be given access to protect areas outside the nursing home in order to enjoy outdoor activity, unless the physical setting makes this possible.

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2. (3) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), this Act, the regulations and service agreement relating to a nursing home are not to be interpreted so as to advance the objective that the residents rights set out in subsection (2) be respected.

2. (4) a License of a nursing home shall be deemed to have entered into a contract with each residents of the home, agreeing to respect and promote the rights of the residents set out in subsection (2)