World Medical Association upholds Conscience Protections.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Recently the World Medical Association (WMA) upheld, after much debate, a position respecting conscience rights. Physicians from Canada and other jurisdictions proposed that the World Medical Association change their position to require that physicians provide an effective referral, where euthanasia is legal. An effective referral would require physicians to be complicit in the Act.

Several committed physicians spoke out in support of conscience rights and lobbied national medical associations to uphold conscience rights. These physicians took the time to organize a strong response and to travel to the WMA meetings to support conscience rights. Thank you.

Canada's parliament recently defeated Conscience Rights Bill C-230 based on a party line vote with most of the Conservatives, including Pierre Poilievre, supporting the conscience rights and nearly every Liberal, NDP and Bloc Québécois MP voting against it. How your MP voted on C-230 (Link), the battle for conscience rights is far from over.

The WMA victory underlines the importance of continuing the fight to protect the conscience rights of medical professionals. If conscience rights cannot be protected, at this time, federally, then we will renew our commitment at the provincial or state level.

Conscience rights protect medical professionals from being forced to be complicit in acts that they consider wrong, but conscience rights are also important for patients.

All of us need to be assured, in our time of need, that our doctor will respect our opposition to being killed. You need a physician who respects your values. If you are experiencing a difficult medical condition you may become very depressed and ask for something that you would never otherwise request. You need a physician who is free to protect you at the lowest time of your life.

Conscience rights protect medical professionals and conscience rights protect you.