1. A substitute decision maker needs to be capable, willing, and available in order to make decisions for a resident.

2. If a resident never shared any wishes, a substitute decision maker can substitute their own wishes.

3. Someone named in a Power of Attorney for Personal Care can appoint another person to make decisions for the resident.

4. A person is considered a resident's "spouse" only if that person is married to the resident.

5. Ontario's Health Care Consent Act includes principles that substitute decision makers are to follow when making treatment decisions for someone else.

6. If a resident has no higher ranked substitute decision makers, but one child is older than the other, the eldest child will be the substitute decision maker.

7. A substitute decision maker can consent on a resident’s behalf, even if the resident is capable.

8. If a resident has two equally ranked substitute decision makers, and one provides consent to treatment but the other refuses, the health care provider proposing treatment must wait for them to agree.

9. Even if a resident is capable, informed consent for treatment must also be obtained from the person named in the resident's Power of Attorney for Personal Care document.

10. A substitute decision maker can ask the Consent and Capacity Board for permission to depart from a resident's known wish.