In a commentary on CBC Radio, Canada’s publicly funded state broadcaster, Prince Edward Island University professor Richard Raiswell asserted that “abortion is a medically necessary, essential health care service” and insisted that all Canadian women have a “right” to the service. Since the province does not provide abortion on the island, Raiswell argues that women who have to leave the island to obtain the procedure “are being denied access to safe medical care.” He suggested that that is illegal. [CBC Radio]
Health care workers who object to facilitating abortion would contest both his assertion of medical necessity and his rights claims, which are being increasingly made in order to limit or suppress freedom of conscience in health care.