The Right2Survive Patient Charter is a declaration by all the member organizations of the rights that all lung cancer patients should be upheld across Canada.

• Knowing that lung cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Canada (except for non-melanoma skin cancers); it is the leading cause of death from cancer for Canadian men and women.
• Conscious of the fact that funding for lung cancer research is less than that for other fatal diseases; lack of investment in research has left lung cancer patients with limited treatment options.
• Acknowledging that most lung cancers are discovered when the disease is far advanced and that provinces and territories across Canada are still introducing lung cancer screening for patients.
• Concerned by lung cancer patients’ isolation, and the struggles they have with the stigma associated with a tobacco-related disease; we recognize how prejudices about lung cancer held by professional carers, policymakers and the public create barriers toward diagnosis, patient care, and treatment.

WE, THE RIGHT2SURVIVE CANCER COALITION, HEREBY ADOPT THIS CHARTER AND CALL UPON ITS OBSERVANCE BY ALL CONCERNED ON BEHALF OF THE APPROXIMATELY 29,800 PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER ACROSS CANADA EACH YEAR AND THE THOUSANDS MORE WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO THE DISEASE.

The Rights of Canadians with Lung Cancer

In addition to the right of every patient to be treated with dignity and respect, the Right2Survive Coalition reaffirms the right of all lung cancer patients to have access to equitable health care; informed self-determination; destigmatized treatment; confidentiality and privacy.

Along with these fundamental rights, lung cancer patients have the right to:

• Have the hardship of lung cancer recognized by professional carers, policy makers and the public
• Have access to best-in-class treatment from a multi-disciplinary team of medical professionals, which should possess specialist knowledge about lung cancer
• Have their voices and stories acknowledged by decision-makers, resulting in the fair allocation of funding toward lung cancer research and treatment
• Have access to organized, evidence-based programs of early screening and timely medical referral
• Be relieved of the stigma from having lung cancer and have it become destigmatized
• Receive support to stop smoking, if a smoker, and not be denied treatment or support if they cannot overcome addiction
• Patients have a right to access psychosocial support