The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has reached a resolution that upholds the essential rights of medical professionals. I am deeply appreciative of your commitment to protecting the integrity of the medical practice throughout this process. We will remain observant as these guidelines are put into effect.
September 12, 2014
Final supporters
To: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Re: Review and Public Consultation of the Policy
Guidelines “Physicians and the Ontario Human Right’s Code”
Petition:
In light of public debate regarding physicians’ rights to freedom of conscience and religion, we the undersigned, urge the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to uphold policy guidelines that respect the freedom of physicians to practice their profession in a manner that does not violate their conscience or moral and ethical beliefs.
Forcing physicians to disregard their conscience or moral and ethical beliefs in the provision of legally sanctioned non-emergency medical services has serious and far-reaching consequences that affect the integrity and practice of medicine. Cultivating a medical culture that encourages physicians to disregard their conscience by forcing them to do what they believe to be wrong or harmful has the potential to compromise the well-being of patients, physicians, and society.
Freedom of conscience and religion are fundamental freedoms in Canada under Section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A policy that restricts the freedom of physicians to practice their profession in a manner consistent with their conscience or moral and ethical beliefs infringes upon these Charter rights. We urge the CPSO to defend these fundamental freedoms that are essential to the proper functioning of a free and democratic society and hope that the CPSO will uphold the rights of physicians to practice their profession without compromising their integrity, conscience and moral or ethical values.
Sincerely,
Updates
August 6, 2014
The petition has reached one thousand signatures. This milestone highlights the significant number of people who value the integrity of medical conscience and professional freedom.
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 4, 2014
August 2, 2014
Our campaign is currently approaching the one thousand signature threshold. Achieving this milestone will provide significant weight when we present our case to the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Please encourage colleagues and peers to review the petition so we may finalize this push.
Reached 100 supporters
July 25, 2014
8 Comments
I really hope the CPSO listens to this. Conscience rights are so important for practicing medicine ethically.
forcing people to act against their conscience is never a good idea. keep the policy fair.
Doctors shouldnt be forced to go against their own moral beliefs. That is just wrong.
LEAVE THE DOCTORS ALONE. They have rights too!!
Total madness. Keep the current protections in place!
Please don't try to take away our dr.'s rights!!
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the regulating body for Ontario Physicians, is reviewing their policy guidelines entitled “Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights Code” [1]. These policy guidelines directly impact the way in which medicine is practiced in Ontario and currently respect the conscience rights of doctors. In 2008, a similar policy review by the CPSO resulted in a draft policy that nearly jeopardized the conscience rights of Ontario Physicians. The current review is seen by some as an opportunity to modify policy guidelines to restrict the freedom of conscience and religion of physicians. Those advocating for restrictions of this nature believe that physicians have no right to decline prescribing legal non-emergency medical services, even if a physician feels such services are unethical. Such restrictions would have serious and far reaching implications for the practice of medicine in Ontario. The CPSO’s deliberations on the policy under review has larger implications for the rest of Canada as the CPSO’s policies could very well set a precedence for the conscience rights of medical practitioners across the country. The CPSO needs to hear our concerns on this issue. Let your voice count! Citations: [1] “Physicians and the Human Rights Code” (from the website of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.” http://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/?page_id=3403%5C%5C
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The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has reached a resolution that upholds the essential rights of medical professionals. I am deeply appreciative of your commitment to protecting the integrity of the medical practice throughout this process. We will remain observant as these guidelines are put into effect.
September 12, 2014
Final supporters
To: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Re: Review and Public Consultation of the Policy
Guidelines “Physicians and the Ontario Human Right’s Code”
Petition:
In light of public debate regarding physicians’ rights to freedom of conscience and religion, we the undersigned, urge the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to uphold policy guidelines that respect the freedom of physicians to practice their profession in a manner that does not violate their conscience or moral and ethical beliefs.
Forcing physicians to disregard their conscience or moral and ethical beliefs in the provision of legally sanctioned non-emergency medical services has serious and far-reaching consequences that affect the integrity and practice of medicine. Cultivating a medical culture that encourages physicians to disregard their conscience by forcing them to do what they believe to be wrong or harmful has the potential to compromise the well-being of patients, physicians, and society.
Freedom of conscience and religion are fundamental freedoms in Canada under Section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A policy that restricts the freedom of physicians to practice their profession in a manner consistent with their conscience or moral and ethical beliefs infringes upon these Charter rights. We urge the CPSO to defend these fundamental freedoms that are essential to the proper functioning of a free and democratic society and hope that the CPSO will uphold the rights of physicians to practice their profession without compromising their integrity, conscience and moral or ethical values.
Sincerely,
Updates
August 6, 2014
The petition has reached one thousand signatures. This milestone highlights the significant number of people who value the integrity of medical conscience and professional freedom.
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 4, 2014
August 2, 2014
Our campaign is currently approaching the one thousand signature threshold. Achieving this milestone will provide significant weight when we present our case to the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Please encourage colleagues and peers to review the petition so we may finalize this push.
Reached 100 supporters
July 25, 2014
8 Comments
Please do not take away freedom of conscience and religion. We need those Doctors who took an oath to do no harm! Thank you for being open to hearing from both sides.
I really hope the CPSO listens to this. Conscience rights are so important for practicing medicine ethically.
forcing people to act against their conscience is never a good idea. keep the policy fair.
Doctors shouldnt be forced to go against their own moral beliefs. That is just wrong.
LEAVE THE DOCTORS ALONE. They have rights too!!
Total madness. Keep the current protections in place!
Please don't try to take away our dr.'s rights!!
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the regulating body for Ontario Physicians, is reviewing their policy guidelines entitled “Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights Code” [1]. These policy guidelines directly impact the way in which medicine is practiced in Ontario and currently respect the conscience rights of doctors. In 2008, a similar policy review by the CPSO resulted in a draft policy that nearly jeopardized the conscience rights of Ontario Physicians. The current review is seen by some as an opportunity to modify policy guidelines to restrict the freedom of conscience and religion of physicians. Those advocating for restrictions of this nature believe that physicians have no right to decline prescribing legal non-emergency medical services, even if a physician feels such services are unethical. Such restrictions would have serious and far reaching implications for the practice of medicine in Ontario. The CPSO’s deliberations on the policy under review has larger implications for the rest of Canada as the CPSO’s policies could very well set a precedence for the conscience rights of medical practitioners across the country. The CPSO needs to hear our concerns on this issue. Let your voice count! Citations: [1] “Physicians and the Human Rights Code” (from the website of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.” http://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/?page_id=3403%5C%5C
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Please do not take away freedom of conscience and religion. We need those Doctors who took an oath to do no harm! Thank you for being open to hearing from both sides.