Posted on 12/11/2014 8:19:24 AM PST by wagglebee
Ontario’s College of Physicians and Surgeons has tentatively approved a policy forcing doctors in some circumstances to provide abortions, contraceptives, and vasectomies.
If doctors fail to comply with the proposed regulations, they could face disciplinary action, Marc Gabel, a former president of the college, told the Globe and Mail.
The College Council has approved the draft policy for “external consultation,” and it will continue to accept public input until February 20, 2015.
The policy would force doctors who are “unwilling to provide certain elements of care due to their moral or religious beliefs” — such as abortion — to refer the patient “in good faith” to another doctor who would provide the service.
If there is nobody to whom the patient can be referred, then the doctor “must provide care that is urgent or otherwise necessary to prevent imminent harm, suffering, and/or deterioration, even where that care conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs.”
“Although physicians have [freedom of conscience and religion] under the Charter, the Supreme Court of Canada has determined that no rights are absolute,” the draft policy states, adding that the “right to freedom of conscience and religion can be limited.”
The draft policy was released despite the College’s consultation process in the summer, the results of which overwhelmingly favored a doctor’s right to conscientious objection.
Sean Murphy from the Protection of Conscience Project called the draft policy “dangerous” and “an affront to the best traditions of liberal democracy.”
“Prominent academics and activists want to force objecting physicians to provide or refer for abortion and contraception. They and others have led increasingly strident campaigns to suppress freedom of conscience among physicians to achieve that goal. The College’s draft policy clearly reflects their influence,” he said in a press release.
Murphy called the policy a “dress rehearsal” on forcing doctors to comply with euthanasia and assisted suicide laws if it became legal for a doctor to kill a patient.
“It is not a coincidence that activists who would force objecting physicians to facilitate abortion and contraception also intend to force objectors to refer for euthanasia,” he said.
Murphy called it “incoherent and contrary to sound public policy” to force doctors to perform “what one believes to be wrong in a professional code of ethics.”
Feedback information on the policy can be found here.
Developing…
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Ontario’s College of Physicians and Surgeons has by default declared itself to be unqualified in matters of public health and policy. Whatever authority they claim for themselves should be summarily rendered void, and their participation in public affairs no longer accepted by law. Let them climb on their ivory towers and teach, but let them not near the business of setting and attending to matters that effect the livelihood of citizens.
We only approve of certain kinds of diversitah.
This is unlikely to happen and if it did happen it would quickly be undone by the first Islamic MD who did not want to abide by it for religious reasons.
Some "rights" are more absolute than others, though.
And what, short of putting a gun to their heads, would be involved in the forcing?
Even then if the doctor refused to perform the abortion would they shoot him/her?
Perhaps - it might also lead to better healthcare in the US as those doctors flee to the US. It already happens quite a bit and this will accelerate increased immigration to the US.
“Primum non nocere”...
““Although physicians have [freedom of conscience and religion] under the Charter, the Supreme Court of Canada has determined that no rights are absolute,” the draft policy states, adding that the “right to freedom of conscience and religion can be limited.”
Although they have freedom of conscience and religion, we can limit that all we want.
Uh huh. I see.
No way can I be forced to do any of those things. I would surrender my license and go to jail before participating in abortion
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