Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Appeal Court Says Doctors Have To Give Referrals For Services They Oppose

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 May, 2019 05:35 PM
  • Appeal Court Says Doctors Have To Give Referrals For Services They Oppose

TORONTO — Ontario's highest court says doctors in the province must give referrals for medical services that clash with their moral or religious beliefs.


In a unanimous ruling released today, a three-judge panel dismissed an appeal seeking to overturn a divisional court decision that upheld the referral requirement


The referral requirement is part of a policy issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to address issues surrounding, among other things, assisted dying and abortion.


Last year, the divisional court found that while the policy does infringe on doctors' religious freedom, the benefits to the public outweigh the cost to physicians.


The court said doctors can ask their staff to provide a referral to another doctor who can provide the service, or choose to specialize in a type of medicine where these issues are less frequent.


In the appeal, a group of five doctors and three professional organizations argued the ruling was unreasonable because it gave more weight to an assumed problem with access to health care than to a real infringement of doctors' rights.


The group — which includes the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, the Canadian Federation of Catholic Physicians' Societies and Canadian Physicians for Life — said there is no evidence that patients would be harmed by not receiving a referral.


It also alleged the court erred in saying doctors could pick specialties where fewer moral conflicts arise, arguing that presumes physicians can easily switch jobs.


The college, which regulates doctors in Ontario, said in documents that its policy aims to balance physicians' beliefs with the need to ensure access to care.


It said suggesting that people can simply find another physician to treat them ignores the barriers patients face, particularly vulnerable ones and those living in remote areas.

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada's Agriculture Minister Talks Canola With Chinese Counterpart At G20

TOKYO — Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau briefly met with her Chinese counterpart, where she expressed Canada's concern with the suspension of canola exports to China over claims it is contaminated.

Canada's Agriculture Minister Talks Canola With Chinese Counterpart At G20

B.C. Court Allows Class-Action Lawsuit Against Facebook To Expand

B.C. Court Allows Class-Action Lawsuit Against Facebook To Expand
Deborah Douez claims the social media giant used her image and those of others without their knowledge in the "sponsored stories" advertising program that is no longer in operation.    

B.C. Court Allows Class-Action Lawsuit Against Facebook To Expand

Police Vehicles Wrecked As Drivers Leads RCMP In 'Dangerous Pursuit'

Police Vehicles Wrecked As Drivers Leads RCMP In 'Dangerous Pursuit'
NANAIMO, B.C. — Two RCMP vehicles were destroyed and a 28-year-old man taken into custody after police say they were led on a "dangerous pursuit" Saturday in Nanaimo, B.C.    

Police Vehicles Wrecked As Drivers Leads RCMP In 'Dangerous Pursuit'

Man Charged In Death At B.C. Home Where Police Say 'Violent Struggle' Occurred

Man Charged In Death At B.C. Home Where Police Say 'Violent Struggle' Occurred
CENTRAL SAANICH, B.C. — A man from Nanaimo, B.C., has been charged with first-degree murder after police found one person dead and two seriously injured at a home in Brentwood Bay.

Man Charged In Death At B.C. Home Where Police Say 'Violent Struggle' Occurred

Wildfire Scorches More Than Two Square Kilometres Of Woodland In Southern B.C.

Wildfire Scorches More Than Two Square Kilometres Of Woodland In Southern B.C.
OSOYOOS, B.C. — An aggressive wildfire burning west of Osoyoos near Highway 3 has charred more than 2.5-square kilometres of bush in barely 12 hours.

Wildfire Scorches More Than Two Square Kilometres Of Woodland In Southern B.C.

Experts Search Rubble Of Former Victoria Hotel After Suspicious Fire

Experts Search Rubble Of Former Victoria Hotel After Suspicious Fire
VICTORIA — Police and fire investigators in Victoria are sifting through the charred remains of the Plaza Hotel, which was destroyed last week by a fire that police say is considered suspicious.

Experts Search Rubble Of Former Victoria Hotel After Suspicious Fire