Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act (HCCCFAA) (BC)

The British Columbia Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act, or HCCCFAA contains the laws for medical treatment, and consent for health care (excluding mental health care) in British Columbia. The HCCCFAA outlines what a patient’s rights are, the elements of informed content, when consent is required, and what to do if a patient is found to be incapable. Similar to other jurisdictions, there are general principles that guide consent:

  1. Adults are presumed to be capable of giving consent unless proven otherwise
  2. Adults can only be given health care with their prior given consent
  3. Adult must be approached first for a decision about health care