The following post is from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the state regulatory authority for the practice of medicine in the province:
The College’s Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights Code policy is currently being reviewed. This policy sets out physicians’ legal obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) and the College’s expectations that physicians will respect the fundamental rights of those who seek their medical services. It aims to assist the profession in understanding its existing legal and professional obligations, and provide physicians with guidance about how to comply with these obligations in everyday practice.
View the current policy
To assist with this review, we are inviting feedback from all stakeholders, including members of the medical profession, the public, health system organizations and other health professionals on the current policy. Comments received during this preliminary consultation will assist the College in updating the policy. When a revised draft is developed, it will be recirculated for further comment before it is finalized by Council.
Submissions must be received by 5 August, 2014.
See the full notice on the College website. It includes a “quickpoll” survey asking visitors to vote for or against freedom of conscience for physicians.
Current College policy was the product of an attempt by the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 2008 to suppress freedom of conscience in the medical profession in Ontario. When news of the plan broke, the resulting backlash, including opposition from the Ontario Medical Association, forced a revision in the original draft. See the 2008 Project submission to the College.