Founded in 1955, the Beneficiaries' Committee is an effective advocate for patient's (also called beneficiary or user) rights.

Who are the "beneficiaries" of the Douglas Institute?

A beneficiary is any person who has received services from the Douglas Institute, irrespective of the nature or frequency of these services, within a period not exceeding 60 months.

Legal representatives of beneficiaries of the Douglas Institute are also recognized as users and may participate in and also elect the members of the Beneficiaries' Committee.

These persons are:

• The holder of parental authority of a beneficiary who is a minor, or the beneficiaries' tutor
• The curator, tutor, spouse, or close relative of a beneficiary of full age under legal incapacity
• An authorized person mandated by the incapable user of full age before the persons' incapacity
• A person proving he has a special interest in the user of full age under legal incapacity

Functions of the Beneficiaries' Committee

• Inform beneficiaries of their rights and responsibilities
• Foster the improvement of the quality of the living conditions of the beneficiaries and assess the level of satisfaction of the users about the services they receive
• Defend the rights and the interests of beneficiaries, or at the request of the beneficiary, the rights and the interests as a beneficiary before the institution or any competent authority
• Accompany and assist a beneficiary, on request, in any action undertaken (as a beneficiary), including filing a complaint before the hospital Local Commissioner (ombudsman) (first recourse) or the protector of users (second recourse)

Contact

Douglas Institute
Burgess Pavilion, room D-0104
6875 LaSalle Boulevard
Montreal, (Quebec) H4H 1R3

Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2286
Fax: 514-888-4089
combenef_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca