TORONTO — Canada's largest medical regulator wants to change its policies so that doctors who refuse to perform certain procedures — such as abortions — on moral grounds must refer patients to another doctor.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario says doctors were previously allowed to withhold treatment that clashed with their religious and moral beliefs but had no obligation to provide a referral.
Under new draft policies that are now under public consultation, doctors would also have to set aside their convictions when urgent medical care is needed.
The regulator, which represents some 38,000 physicians, is also updating its guidelines on end-of-life care to say doctors must obtain consent from the patient or caregiver before turning off life support.
Bernard Dickens, a medical law expert at the University of Toronto's Joint Centre for Bioethics, says Ontario would be the only province with such a requirement.
It stems from a recent Supreme Court decision that only applies to cases in Ontario.
"In other provinces, it's not certain and the Supreme Court left that open," Dickens said.
