Echoes Of Reform: The Excellent Care For All Act And Psychiatric Patient Advocacy In Ontario

The passage of the Excellent Care for All Act (ECFAA) in June 2010 marked a significant juncture for healthcare reform in Ontario, aiming to enhance standards, optimize resources, and reduce costs across hospitals. One significant responsibility mandated under ECFAA was the requirement for a Patient Declarations of Values (PDoVs). This study delves into the foundational underpinnings of the PDoV development process, drawing from Mad Studies theory and the contemporary landscape of patient advocacy. I examine the integration of patient embodied knowledge in these PDoVs, while simultaneously identifying conspicuous absences by unpacking the assumptions within "patient engagement" and its role in shaping the medico-legal discourse surrounding patient rights within the psychiatric milieu. This study reveals challenges for advocacy within psychiatric settings and underscores the importance of revitalizing praxis for capacity building in community activism in order to shape the future landscape of mental healthcare provision and the safeguarding of patient rights.