At an April 25 to 27 weekend conference for Catholic doctors organized by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute in Toronto, doctors began speaking over breakfast about creating a national federation of Canadian Catholic physicians’ guilds that could speak with a national voice on euthanasia and other issues.

The discussion was spurred by the prospect of Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde reintroducing Bill C-407, a private member’s bill to legalize assisted suicide. The bill was defeated in 2005, but observers believe it could draw support from a majority of legislators today.

CCBI director Moira McQueen was quick to offer her organization’s support to creating a federation of Catholic doctors’ guilds. The CCBI could provide staff time and e-mail lists.

“Whenever our Catholic bishops’  voice is heard, their voice needs to be supported,” McQueen said. “Society still does look to physicians.”

Many Canadian doctors belong to the Catholic Medical Association based just outside Philadelphia. But as an American organization with a largely American membership that organization would not be taken seriously by Canadian law makers, the doctors said.

The doctors expect they may see legislation before Parliament this year which would classify homicide as a medical treatment.