N.S. risks losing dozens of physicians over a potential new policy
CTV
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia are drafting the Professional Standard Regarding Conscientious Objection, which includes a policy that would force doctors to provide an ‘effective referral’ for surgical or medical treatments that go against their values or beliefs.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia is drafting the Professional Standard Regarding Conscientious Objection, which includes a policy that would force doctors to provide an ‘effective referral’ for surgical or medical treatments that go against their values or beliefs.
This usually happens for cases like medical assistance in dying (MAID), abortion, and gender-affirming care.
The draft defines ‘effective referral’ as a referral made in good faith to a non-objecting, available, and accessible physician, other health-care professional or agency.
“A physician needs to maintain their own integrity, whether it’s because of their religious beliefs or moral conviction. For us, a referral is a recommendation for services and we’re not able to provide a formal recommendation,” said Larry Worthen, executive director of Christian Medical and Dental Association of Canada (CMDA).
A total of 24 physicians in Nova Scotia have signed a letter, indicating that they cannot follow the policy, and that if it is put in place, they will have no choice but to either leave the province to practice elsewhere or retire early.
“If there is a complaint from a patient, the college has said they will discipline doctors and once that happens that will affect their ability to practice. A doctor can’t afford to get a black mark on their record. It will affect their ability to move to another province,” explained Worthen.
The doctors against the policy would instead prefer to simply provide information and assist the patient in accessing it, but nothing more.
