An Attack On The Rights Of The Frail And Elderly
In 2022, the Ontario government enacted Bill 7, known as the More Beds, Better Care Act, to address hospital capacity issues. This legislation allows hospitals to transfer patients, primarily seniors designated as requiring an alternate level of care (ALC), to long-term care (LTC) homes not of their choosing.
Bill 7, known as the More Beds, Better Care Act:
If patients refuse the transfer, hospitals are authorized to charge a fee of $400/day for continued occupancy.
Between September 2022 and April 2024, five patients were fined under this policy, with charges ranging from 13 to 93 days. In one notable case, an 83-year-old woman with dementia was fined $28,600 for refusing placement in a non-preferred LTC home.
Critics argue that Bill 7 undermines patient autonomy and may lead to the displacement of seniors into LTC facilities far from their communities and families. Concerns have also been raised about the potential for elder abuse and the erosion of informed consent.
The Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, has expressed strong opposition to Bill 7, the "More Beds, Better Care Act." Schreiner criticized the legislation as "an attack on the rights of the frail and elderly" and condemned the government's decision to pass the bill without proper public scrutiny or committee hearings.
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