New regulations for personal surveillance cameras in long-term care homes

The Quebec government has announced that new rules governing how surveillance cameras can be used in long-term care facilities will come into effect in early March.

The government says residents of long-term care centres across the province will have to ensure cameras installed in their rooms are there strictly to monitor their well-being and not to spy on neighbours.

Francine Charbonneau, the minister responsible for seniors, said today the rules balance a patient's right to have their security monitored while also protecting the reputations of staff.

The new regulations will be in effect as of March 7 and are part of a law passed in 2016 seeking to prevent the mistreatment of seniors in health-care centres.

Quebec adopted the legislation in response to cases of vulnerable elderly patients being abused by staff at long-term care facilities across the province.

Paul Brunet, president of a patients' rights group, says cameras have been allowed in long-term care facilities for years and the rules were adopted to protect the government and health-care centres as opposed to residents.

He says the regulations place the onus of surveillance on the resident or their family and do nothing to prevent abuse by staff.