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Premier David Eby says changes to involuntary care protect workers from being sued
The update clarifies involuntary care language and adds about 100 new beds in Surrey and Prince George, aiming to protect staff and improve treatment access.
- On Nov. 24, 2025, Premier David Eby announced proposed changes to the Mental Health Act to protect health‑care workers providing involuntary care.
- A Charter challenge to the law prompted review of the 'deemed consent' provision, filed by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, with the B.C. Supreme Court recently finishing final arguments.
- Removing the first part of Section 31 will rewrite the statute's wording by removing the first part of Section 31 of the Mental Health Act and adding liability protection to Section 16 of the Mental Health Act, B.C. government officials said.
- The province will open more involuntary‑care beds and new facilities in Surrey and Prince George, building on plans to add about 100 more beds to the existing 2,000 mental health beds, while Eby said the changes aim to `immunize` front‑line health‑care workers without altering patient care.
- Critics say the amendments risk weakening patient safeguards as Angela Russolillo and Jeremy Valeriote called the changes misguided or `opportunistic`, while the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy warned they could undercut legal challenges.
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12 Articles
12 Articles
Premier David Eby says changes to involuntary care protect workers from being sued
The provincial government has tabled changes to the Health Mental Act, which it says will reduce the legal exposure of health care workers, who deliver involuntary care to patients held under the law.
·Canada
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Premier David Eby says changes to involuntary care protect workers from being sued
VICTORIA — The provincial government has tabled changes to the Health Mental Act, which it says will reduce the legal exposure of health care workers, who deliver involuntary care to patients held under the law.
·Flin Flon, Canada
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B.C. gov't says Mental Health Act changes intended to help nurses, but critics concerned
While Premier David Eby says these changes are necessary to make sure health-care workers are clearly protected from liability, some in the health-care industry have raised questions about why this change is necessary – as they say the act already covers liability protection.
·Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Left
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
60% Left
L 60%
C 30%
Factuality
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