Armed with letters of support from religious community leaders, plus the official positions of the Ontario, Canadian and American Medical Associations, health care professionals descended on Queen’s Park May 18 in support of a Progressive Conservative private members’ bill that would shield doctors from punishment by the College of Physicians and Surgeons and other regulatory bodies if they refuse to refer for medically assisted suicide

The majority Liberal government at Queen’s Park has crushed an opposition attempt to incorporate conscience protections for doctors in its legislation on assisted suicide.

Amendments to a government bill have been forward that would protect Ontario’s doctors and nurses who, for reasons of conscience, cannot refer for medical assistance in dying (MAID).

With more than 22,000 emails and letters in their in-boxes, Ontario legislators have rarely been under as much pressure to amend a bill as they have been over conscience rights for doctors in Bill-84.

A coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders has sent an open letter to all 107 Ontario MPPs urging them to work together and “find a pathway that respects the rights of medical professionals, facilities and patients.”

Doctors are being bullied, silenced and coerced in a pro-euthanasia environment which is forcing those who object to medically assisted suicide to provide an effective referral for patients who wish to die, provincial legislators were told during hearings into Bill 84.

On March 23, public depositions were heard by a standing committee that is reviewing Bill-84, an act to amend Ontario laws related to medically assisted death. Two of the speakers, Cardinal Thomas Collins and Dr. Christine Cserti‐Gazdewich, appealed for the recognition of conscience rights to protect doctors who reject this now-legal practice. Here is the edited statement from Cardinal Collins.

On March 23, public depositions were heard by a standing committee that is reviewing Bill-84, an act to amend Ontario laws related to medically assisted death. Two of the speakers, Cardinal Thomas Collins and Dr. Christine Cserti‐Gazdewich, appealed for the recognition of conscience rights to protect doctors who reject this now-legal practice. Here is the edited statement from Dr. Christine Cserti‐Gazdewich.

A naturopath stole the show as hearings began into Ontario’s enabling legislation for doctor assisted suicide at Queen’s Park on March 23.

OTTAWA – Ontario doctors should fight harder to preserve conscience rights in the face of a policy that is “outrageous,” said American physician and theologian Dr. Farr Curlin.

Conscience rights for Ontario doctors will get the full attention of Queen’s Park on Thursday, March 23, in committee hearings on Bill 84.

The right being sought by many Ontario doctors to refuse to give patient referrals for euthanasia and assisted suicide will be addressed in committee meetings at Queen’s Park in the next month.

WEST VANCOUVER, British Columbia – After 17 years of championing the freedoms of British Columbia pharmacists, Cristina Alarcon is celebrating a victory.

OTTAWA – Groups defending conscience rights and religious freedom will be allowed to participate in a court case challenging the Ontario physicians’ college.

OTTAWA – Canada’s recently departed Ambassador of Religious Freedom believes his former office has been “diminished” under the current government and he expressed alarm at a general waning of respect for religious freedom and conscience rights.