For any ethical medical service, what physician would set out to make an “ineffective referral”?
“Effective referral” – what a bland phrase. Yet the Nova Scotia the Ontario Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons have adopted this euphemism to mean “removing your discretion as to whether to send a suicidal patient to a doctor who would have no compunctions about killing them if some basic criteria are present.”
For any ethical medical service, what physician would set out to make an “ineffective referral”? An imaginary referral? A recreational referral? On the other hand, what kind of physician would force a colleague to do something they believed to be wrong?
No, “effective referral” is, in our current Troubles, the code phrase for “compulsory referral.”
“Effective referral” is a red flag, useful for identifying those who find it inconvenient that Section 2 of the Charter talks about freedom of conscience and religion.
“Effective referral” is a flashing blue light duct-taped to the heads of College officials and academics who feel competent to remake the ethics of medicine in their own image.
Pressured to violate your conscience rights?
Not sure what to do?
CALL US TOLL FREE – 1-855-239-0622
Medical professionals who hold to traditional Hippocratic medical ethics are facing difficult times. Some of our members have been attacked in the media for their beliefs, students and residents face pressure to perform acts contrary to their religious beliefs or morals, and it was necessary for Canadian Physicians for Life to join a legal challenge against a regulatory college because its policies require physicians to violate their consciences.
For these reasons, we are providing a crisis line that our members can call in times of difficulty, when their personal or professional integrity is under attack for any reason. Whether you are a student being challenged by an attending physician, or a physician being written about in the press, Canadian Physicians for Life is just a phone call away.
What is the Crisis Line? By calling our toll-free number at 1-855-239-0622, members will have the opportunity to speak for an hour with a lawyer. Depending on the circumstances, members will also have access to a network of pro-life physicians and professionals who can offer advice on media strategies, dealing with institutional politics, handling difficult ethical circumstances and crisis communications.
There is no cost to use the Crisis Line. For more information, call or visit www.cp4l.ca/crisis.
Dr. Will Johnston is President of Canadian Physicians for Life. Canadian Physicians for Life seeks to promote public awareness of and professional adherence to the time-honoured Hippocratic medical tradition, which affirms the inviolability of every human life. Founded in 1975, we are a non-profit, charitable organization of Canadian physicians dedicated to the respect and ethical treatment of every human being, regardless of age or infirmity. We are pro-life physicians, retired physicians, medical residents, and students dedicated to building a culture of care, compassion, and life. P.O. Box 65136, RPO Merivale, Nepean, Ontario K2G 5Y3 Ph. 613-728-LIFE(5433) TF 1-855-239-0622 F 613-319-0837
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