Physicians in Canada should be moral actors, not robotic bureaucrats

Doctors should not be obliged to write referrals for procedures they find morally objectionable

CBC

Brian Bird

Earlier this week, Ontario’s highest court heard a case that pits access to health care against the moral convictions of doctors. The case essentially tests the extent to which Canadians can follow their own moral compasses while operating in a professional capacity.

In Ontario, doctors can refuse to perform procedures or prescribe drugs that they consider immoral. However, the public body that regulates these doctors – the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) – requires them to refer patients to doctors who are willing and able to provide the requested health care service. . .
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Abortion in Ireland: Four weeks in, how’s it working?

Abortion has been legal in Ireland for almost a month, yet uncertainties and problems persist

The Irish Times

Jennifer Bray

Next week will mark one month since the introduction of general abortion services for the first time in the history of the Irish State. In the final weeks of 2018, there were dire warnings from senior medics and family doctors that the January 1st deadline was being “rushed” and was “dangerously unrealistic”.

Only nine maternity hospitals were ready to provide full access to abortion care, with the remaining 10 expected to come on board shortly. Some 240 general practitioners have now signed up to the service. Despite the less than comprehensive level of access, abortions are now happening across the country in hospitals and in general practices.

But in the short time since the enactment of the law, some serious concerns have emerged. . . [Full text]

Abortion services ‘hit by conscientious objectors’

The Times

Ellen Coyne

Some hospitals are having “difficulty” providing abortion services because of the number of staff who are objecting.

Cliona Murphy, chairwoman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said that in some cases it had been difficult to find enough staff to carry out a surgical abortion. . .[Full text]

Medical Council updates ethical guide to avert conflict

Medical Council confirmed its Ethics Working Group is continuing to work on ethical guide

Irish Medical Times

Valerie Ryan

The Medical Council has deleted four paragraphs of its ethical guide and amended another to remove “any conflict” with the newly introduced legis­lation facilitating for the medical termination of pregnancy. . . [T]he Council confirmed its Ethics Working Group is continuing to work on the Guide. . . . [Full text]

‘We had a very short interval’: Some practitioners concerned over timing of abortion services

Some hospitals are waiting for the system to be fully up and running before providing the service.

thejournal.ie

Zuzia Whelan

MEMBERS OF THE Institute of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – the national training body for obstetricians and gynaecologists  — have raised concerns about the short length of time between signing and enactment of legislation for abortion services in Ireland. 

Speaking on Morning Ireland, director Dr Cliona Murphy expressed the institution’s wish that there had been a longer lead-in time for hospitals instead of the 1 January deadline imposed by the Minister for Health. . . [Full text]