Presently, the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons is reviewing the “Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights Code,” in accordance with their regular review policy to assist them in updating the code. The College’s website states that they “are inviting feedback from all stakeholders, including members of the medical profession, the public health system organization and other health professionals.”
With regard to one section of the code that is currently under public scrutiny, the following question appeared on the College’s website: “Do you think a physician should be allowed to refuse to provide a patient with a treatment or procedure because it conflicts with the Physician’s religious or moral beliefs?
Out of 32,826 voters, 77% or 25,163 voted YES to the August 5th quick on-line poll.
The public voters have given a resounding mandate to the College to not modify the section of the code that protects the conscience rights of physicians to prescribe anything they deem morally unacceptable.
A recent editorial in “The Catholic Register” refers to a legitimate concern that any change to the in-question section of the Physicians and Human Rights Code “could lead to erosion of that statute”. Such concern about changes in the wording of the code is happening “amid some pressure to purge religious freedom and conscience rights from everyday medical practice”. Let’s do our part to ensure that this part of the policy remains unchanged. The current system works. It “lets doctors be honest with themselves and with their patients. No one is denied emergency care and non-emergency treatments are available from the many doctors, who, with a clear conscience, accept any patient”. (Catholic Register Aug. 10-17, 2014)
When a revised draft of the policy is developed, it will be circulated for further comment before it is finalized. It is important for us as Ontarians to stay alert to future updates on this important manner.
Do we want our medical professionals parking their consciences at the door before they treat patients?
Jean Moylan, CSJ