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Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia
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We are grateful to live and work on the unceded territories of the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia. Our commitment to walking
respectfully on these lands is captured in our Truth and Reconciliation Strategy .
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Personal Decision Services

Skip Navigation LinksHome>Services>Services to Adults>Personal Decision Services
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Under the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act (HCCCFAA ), informed consent must be obtained prior to an adult receiving health care treatment or prior to an adult’s admission to a residential care facility. Part 2 of HCCCFAA guides health care providers on how to seek and obtain consent before providing treatment. Similarly, Part 3 of HCCCFAA requires consent before an adult is admitted into a care facility and guides managers responsible for admissions on how to obtain that consent.  

HCCCFAA presumes that all adults are capable of providing informed consent unless assessed otherwise. The assessment of an adult must specifically speak to their incapability of making the specific decision at issue such as providing consent to health care under Part 2 or consent to facility admission under Part 3. Both parts of the legislation contain provisions about substitutes who can provide consent when either the health care provider or manager responsible for admissions have assessed the adult as incapable of providing consent.

The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is named under both parts of the legislation as either the temporary substitute decision maker (TSDM) of last resort under Part 2 or substitute decision maker (SDM) of last resort under Part 3 of HCCCFAA. If there is no willing, available and qualified substitute, or there is a dispute between equally ranked family decision makers, the PGT is called upon to authorize a suitable TSDM for health care treatment decisions or a suitable SDM for facility admission. If it is unclear who to choose between equally ranked substitutes, the PGT will make the substitute treatment and/or facility admission decisions.

Health Care Decisions

Part 2 of the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act establishes rules for the provision of legally valid consent to health care treatment. Health care professionals must obtain informed consent from a patient before providing treatment.

However, if the patient is incapable, a substitute decision maker may be needed.  In the absence of an already existing substitute decision maker such as a Committee of Person or Representative under a Representation Agreement, and in the absence of an Advance Directive relevant to the health care decision to be made, the law requires the health care provider to choose a person who will provide consent to treatment from a list of qualified people who meet specific criteria.

This list of people, referred to as Temporary Substitute Decision Makers (TSDMs), includes family members and close friends and if there is no one else, the PGT.  

Care Facility Admission Decisions

Part 3 of HCCCFAA contains the provisions which set out the requirements for consent to facility admission. Managers responsible for admissions must obtain consent prior to admitting an adult into a care facility. This consent is sought directly from the adult.  

In cases where the adult has been assessed as incapable of providing informed consent a substitute decision maker is required. Managers seek consent from any known Committee of Person if already existing or from a list of qualified Substitute Decision Makers (SDMs) which includes a Representative under a Section 9 Representation Agreement, followed by family and close friends and if there is no one, the PGT.  

Admissions Managers can use the CFA referral form provided in the link below to make a referral to the PGT.

CFA Referral Form (fillable)
 
Please fill in the referral form with as much information as possible, as the information from the form will help us determine the extent of our involvement and potentially make a decision. 
 
You can fill it in online and submit via email OR you can print it out, fill it and mail or fax the completed form to the PGT. Alternatively, simply call 604.660.4507 to make the referral.
 
See our publications Consent to Health Care , Care Facility Admission and the Role of Public Guardian and Trustee and Information for Temporary Substitute Decision Makers Authorized by the PGT for more information.

See our Contact Us page for regional contact information and toll free information to access PGT Personal Decision Services.  

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Contact Us

 


Services to Adults

Personal Decision Services
Toll free Ph: 1.877.511.4111
Local Ph: 604.660.4507
Toll free Fax: 1.855.660.9479
Local Fax: 604.660.9479
Email: AIS-PDS@trustee.bc.ca

Greater Vancouver Regional Office
700-808 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
Ph: 604.775.1001 
Fax: 604.660.9498
Email: sta@trustee.bc.ca

Vancouver Island Regional Office
1215 Broad Street Victoria, BC V8W 2A4
Mailing: PO Box 9251, Victoria, BC  V8W 9J2
Ph: 250.356.8160
Fax: 250.356.7442
Email: sta@trustee.bc.ca

Interior-North Regional Office
1345 St. Paul Street Kelowna, BC  V1Y 2E2
Ph: 250.712.7576
Fax: 250.712.7578
Email: sta@trustee.bc.ca

Assessment and Investigation Services
Toll free Ph: 1.877.511.4111
Local Ph: 604.660.4507
Toll free Fax: 1.855.660.9479
Local Fax: 604.660.9479
Email: AIS-PDS@trustee.bc.ca

Estate Liaison Services
700-808 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
Ph: 604.660.4556
Fax: 604.775.0459
Email:estateliaisonadmin@trustee.bc.ca

Private Committee Services
700-808 West Hastings Street Vancouver , BC V6C 3L3
Ph: 604.660.1500
Fax: 604.660.4456
Email: PCSAdmin@trustee.bc.ca

See Contact Us page for hours of service.

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Vancouver Office

Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia
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Address: 700-808 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
Phone: 604.660.4444
Fax: 604.660.0374
E-mail: mail@trustee.bc.ca

Vancouver Island Office

PGT - Vancouver Island Office
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Address: 1215 Broad Street
Victoria, BC V8W 2A4
Phone: 250.356.8160
Fax: 250.356.7442
E-mail: mail@trustee.bc.ca

Interior-North Office

PGT - Interior-North Office
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Address: 1345 St. Paul Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E2
Phone: 250.712.7576
Fax: 250.712.7578
E-mail: mail@trustee.bc.ca
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