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In Quebec, people suffering from illness or from a loss of autonomy have been granted a number of legal rights. However, the formal recognition of such rights gives us little indication as to how they are interpreted and applied in practice, or how they impact the interactions between caregivers and patients. We identify four major ways in which these rights are interpreted in diverse health and social service institutions in Quebec, as well as within the institutions that are responsible for ensuring these laws are respected. These various interpretations of rights are the result of the range of possible interactions between patients and caregivers, and of the various positions patients occupy in health services. This analysis of rights will lead us to consider the broader question of the subject.