London Free Press
Dr. Maria MacDonald laboured 12 years as a student and medical resident to become a neurologist, but the Londoner may give that up if she’s forced to refer patients to a physician-assisted death.
“My freedom of conscience has been violated,” she said. “Do I have to leave and go to another field?”
Other doctors are asking that same question in Ontario, whose regulatory college is the only one in Canada to demand that physicians who oppose helping patients die refer them to a colleague willing to assist in a death.
“It’s an extensive belief,” said Larry Worthen, executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada.
A month ago, Worthen said, he teleconferenced with 40 doctors and some already had taken steps so they could leave Ontario and practise medicine elsewhere. . . [Full text]