Euthanasia lobby pressures College of Physicians of Manitoba to force doctors to refer for euthanasia.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

An article published in the Winnipeg Free Press, today, explains that Dying with Dignity, Canada's leading euthanasia lobby group, is pressuring the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba to require doctors to refer patients for euthanasia.

The Manitoba College is seeking input concerning guidelines for euthanasia in Manitoba. These guidelines do not require physicians who oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide to refer their patients to a physician who is willing to lethally inject their patient.

According to the Winnipeg Free Press article Shanaaz Gokool from Dying with Dignity is upset that the Manitoba College is not requiring doctors to refer patients for euthanasia:

"There are two main problems with the Manitoba statement," Gokool said. "There isn't a duty to refer and there's also not a duty to provide a patient with information about physicians who would assist with dying.

The article explains that Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in Manitoba and Alberta are not requiring physicians to refer patients while the Ontario College is requiring physicians to refer.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition considers conscience rights for healthcare workers to be of paramount importance.

When physicians have the right to say - I will not kill you and I will not refer you to death - then physicians also have the right to say - I will protect you in your time of need.

• Winnipeg doctors speak out against assisted dying.
• Assisted suicide: respect the conscience rights of all.
• Canadian Psychiatrists are concerned that they will be required to kill their patients.