You can access your health and social services information starting at age 14. Healthcare professionals, and other individuals if necessary, can also access it. However, you have the right to limit access to this information.
This text concerns access to information about individuals aged 14 or older. For access to the records of children under 14, different rules apply.
Basic access
As a general rule, information about your physical and mental health is confidential. It is only accessible to:
- You or the person authorized to act on your behalf
- Healthcare providers in the public or private sector who renders services to you
The Québec Health Record (QHR) is the platform used by healthcare professionals and authorized organizations. It allows them to consult various information about you and to add information.
The Québec Health Booklet is the online service designed for citizens. You can use it to access some of your information and see who has viewed it in the QHR.
Unable to access your information through the Québec Health Booklet? Notice an error in your medical record? Send an access request or a correction request to the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS).
Expanded access
In some cases, a person’s health information may be shared more widely.
Do you represent an incapable person of full age who is unable to consent to medical care on their own? You have the right to be informed and to have access to all their health information. Furthermore, as their representative, tutor or mandatary, you may request corrections to information concerning them, if necessary.
The spouse and close relatives of a deceased person may access some of their health information if it can help them through the grieving process.
Information related to the cause of death may also be disclosed to:
- Their spouse
- Their direct ascendant (e.g., parent or grandparent)
- Their direct descendant (e.g., child or grandchild)
Anyone can refuse to allow access to their health information after their death. In that case, the individuals listed above will not have access to it.
Other people can also obtain the health information of a deceased person to exercise a right or an obligation. This could be an heir or the liquidator of their succession, for example.
Lastly, someone may wish to know if a disease runs in their family. In such cases, if they have a genetic link to the deceased, they will be granted access to certain information.
Limited access
You have the right to prevent a healthcare provider—or a category of providers—from accessing one or more pieces of your personal information. Once you have taken the appropriate steps, the providers in question will only be able to access this information in an emergency, if they need to save your life or protect your physical well-being.
You can also refuse access to researchers, for example if their goal is to invite you to participate in a research project.
If you encounter any problems
Was your health information not properly protected? Is the MSSS refusing to correct an error in your record? Contact the Commission d’accès à l’information. If you are not satisfied with the services of the Commission, the Protecteur du citoyen may be able to help you. Contact us so we can assess your situation.
You can also contact us if the MSSS is taking too long to respond to your request.
Our services are simple and free of charge.
Note that the Protecteur du citoyen cannot have a decision made by the Commission amended. Nor can it intervene regarding applications for review processed by the Commission.
