The services offered by Heenan Blaikie’s Health Law group cover all aspects of the organization and operation of establishments and bodies corporate in the provincial health care and social services network. From structural aspects to the most complex transactions,from internal management to the control of activities,and from relations with institutions in the network to contracts with external organizations, our range of actions is extremely varied.
Services Overview
We provide health law advice in connection with:
- Privacy and information management – confidentiality of patient medical records, access to health records and other requests, federal and provincial privacy laws
- Technology – telehealth and telemedicine, acquisition of information technologies, software and Web development, patient health information systems, new reproduction technologies
- Representing health institutions and managers in a wide range of legal matters, including complaints by users, disciplinary actions, malpractice, informed consent to treatment, medical legal and ethical issues
- Government relations – legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives; developing and implementing cohesive legislative strategies; drafting federal and provincial legislation; making representations before elected officials, parliamentary committees and administrative agencies of the two levels of government; contributing to the current debate on health care policies
- Drafting and negotiation of contracts and agreements, such as intellectual property, employment, construction, research and supply contracts
- Litigation – class actions, Charter challenges, product liability, intellectual property, fraud, insurance/reinsurance coverage, legislative and regulatory compliance
- Administrative law and public health issues
- Intellectual property issues, such as licensing and protection of intellectual property rights, technological transfer, clinical and commercial use of research
- Labour and employment law – occupational health and safety, union matters, workplace harassment, wrongful dismissal, human rights complaints, Charter cases, pension plans
- Procurement, such as supply chain practices, government procurement and contracting, IT health procurement, preparation of procurement documentation, services acquisition, RFP process, risk assessment, compliance with applicable procurement laws and regulations governing the health sector
- Municipal issues, including land use approvals, parking rules, site plans, taxes, real estate acquisition
- Governance matters – development of bylaws, policies and protocols for health care professionals and institutions, appointment of physicians and other medical staff, suspensions, medical waste management
- Regulatory law, such as evaluating legislative and regulatory actions, monitoring internal risks, resolving regulatory compliance issues and conducting compliance reviews
- Professional and disciplinary law, prosecuting cases before professional discipline tribunals, judicial reviews and appeals, human rights, procedural fairness, unauthorized practice
- Liability of health care and social services professionals and establishments – participation to coroner’s inquests and investigations, directors and officers liability, cooperation with the police, representation before all levels of court and administrative tribunals
- Risk management
- Quality assurance programs and proceedings
- Not-for-profit and charitable institutions
- Public-private partnerships and outsourcing agreements
At Heenan Blaikie, we serve the interests of a broad spectrum of health care professionals, providers, agencies and institutions in the provincial field, including:
- public and private health establishments
- local and regional health authorities
- health and social services agencies
- medical and medical imaging laboratories
- medical devices providers and pharmaceutical companies
- biotech research organizations
- medical and health associations
- health charities
- professional corporations