The Catholic Civil Rights League has issued a news release concerning the euthanasia bill introduced by the Quebec government. In addition to expressing the League’s opposition to euthanasia, the release warned that the bill threatens freedom of conscience for health care workers opposed to euthanasia.
Also of concern to the League, while this proposed legislation allows doctors to refuse to participate in euthanasia requests, it implies that they must participate in a process referring the request to a more willing provider. There appears to be no provision for the religious and conscientious rights of other members of the health care team. As we have seen on the question of abortion, legalization can lead to pressure on health care workers to participate in activities they find morally objectionable.