Changes in legislation may affect your health care decisions or your practice. To find out more about new and amended Alberta legislation related to health ethics, please visit the following webpages: 


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Alberta Health Act

In January 2010, the Minister’s Advisory Committee on Health reported on what it heard from Albertans and stakeholders. They concluded that Alberta needs an Alberta Health Act – new legislation that will move the system from an overemphasis on the needs of institutions and providers to one that better recognizes and responds to people and families needing health services. For more info, please click here.


Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act

The Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act replaces the Dependent Adults Act, as of October 30, 2009. It offers new options for adult Albertans who need help in making personal and/or financial decisions and more safeguards to protect vulnerable adults who can no longer make their own decisions. For a more detailed summary of the Act and links to further resources, click here, and to view the Act in its original text, click here.




Mental Health Amendment Act

The Mental Health Amendment Act came into effect on September 30, 2009, which broadens the criteria for involuntary admission to hospital, requires that a hospital discharge summary and any recommendations for treatment be sent to the individual’s family doctor, if known, and expands the responsibilities of the Mental Health Patient Advocate. On January 1, 2010, community treatment order provisions also come into effect under this amended Act. For a more detailed summary of the Act and links to further resources, click here, and to view the Act in its original text, click here.




Personal Directives Act

The Personal Directives Act became law in Alberta on December 1, 1997. The most recent amendment to the Personal Directives Act came into effect on June 30th, 2008. For a more detailed summary of the Act and links to further resources, click here and to view the Act in its original text, click here.