New hope for Ontario doctors’ conscience fight

The Catholic Register

Michael Swan

New evidence heard in court has given Ontario’s medical conscientious objectors renewed hope.

Two days of hearings before the Ontario Court of Appeal Jan. 21-22 has provided Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS) executive director Deacon Larry Worthen a dollop of confidence as he waits for a decision from the three-judge panel.

“We gave a very good presentation,” Worthen told The Catholic Register after the appeal. “There were some new arguments. There was new evidence.”

The three-judge panel’s ruling has been reserved, with observers expecting a decision in March. . . [Full text]

Fewer than half of GPs let their names be given to women using abortion helpline

The Irish Independent

Eilish O’Regan

JUST 126 of the 253 GPs who have so far signed up to provide medical abortions are allowing their names to be released to women who ring up the ‘My Options’ freephone information line.

If a GP allows their name to be released as part of the information line directory it means that women inquiring about abortion may be able to choose who is the most convenient to attend.

Doctors who have signed up, but not allowed their names to be released, are likely to mostly provide the service to their own patients or accept referrals from other GPs who are not participating. . . [Full text]

New hope for Ontario doctors’ conscience fight

The Catholic Register

Michael Swan

New evidence heard in court has given Ontario’s medical conscientious objectors renewed hope.

Two days of hearings before the Ontario Court of Appeal Jan. 21-22 has provided Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS) executive director Deacon Larry Worthen a dollop of confidence as he waits for a decision from the three-judge panel. . . Full Text

Fewer than half of GPs let their names be given to women using abortion helpline

Irish Independent

Eilish O’Regan

Just 126 of the 253 GPs who have thus far signed up to provide medical abortions are allowing their names to be released to women who ring up the ‘My Options’ freephone information line. 

If a GP allows their name to be released as part of the information line directory it means that women inquiring about abortion may be able to choose who is the most . . . Full Text

958 days without medical assistance in dying policy

Lack of government regulation leaves Nova Scotians without access to legal practice and beset by misinformation.

The Coast

Brooklyn Connolly

It’s been 958 days since Bill C-14 passed federal legislation, yet Nova Scotia still lacks a program for medical assistance in dying—MAiD—as well as MAiD policy and regulation.

Without policy, physicians and nurse practitioners have no way of governing MAiD, creating a series of loopholes and lack of general knowledge surrounding the subject. The Nova Scotia Health Authority, meanwhile, has published false information on its website and staff at St. Martha’s hospital in Antigonish still refuse to perform the assistance at all.

Dalhousie professor Jocelyn Downie has been investigating the legal aspects of this for quite some time, and held an open lecture last week in Halifax to present her information. . . [Full text]