Erin O’Toole and conscience rights

Erin O’Toole asked to confirm that he will not force medical professionals to effectively refer for services

News Release

RightNow

***Version française ci-dessous***

OTTAWA, ON (August 21, 2021) – Political pro-life organization RightNow is calling on Erin O’Toole to confirm that he will not force medical professionals to effectively refer for medically unnecessary procedures, such as physician-assisted suicide.

“Erin O’Toole promised to pro-lifers during the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race that he would protect conscience rights of medical professionals across Canada,” said Scott Hayward, Co-Founder and President of RightNow. “Now it appears with his comments yesterday in Winnipeg that his policy would require that medical professionals would have to refer patients to colleagues for medically unnecessary procedures, such as physician-assisted suicide.”

“Erin O’Toole has flip-flopped on a key promise he made to pro-lifers during the Conservative leadership race last year,” said Alissa Golob, co-founder of RightNow. “The Conservative Party is united on this point, having passed a motion at the policy convention that specifically states that medical professionals would not have to provide effective referrals when it comes to assisted suicide, and other procedures such as abortion.”

“I know that many pro-lifers were excited when this policy was announced on Monday as part of the party’s overall campaign platform. However, the conscience rights policy for medical professionals is essentially null and void if they must effectively refer for medically unnecessary procedures, such as physician-assisted suicide,” said Hayward.

“Our organization is officially calling on Erin O’Toole to maintain his position during the last leadership race and to publicly clarify that an Erin O’Toole Conservative government will not require medical professionals to effectively refer patients for medical procedures, such as assisted suicide, with which they morally disagree”, said Golob.

About RightNow:

RightNow is a not-for-profit organization committed to nominating and electing pro-life candidates along with educating and engaging pro-life Canadians on the political process. Regardless of faith, politics, or background, RightNow works with people across the country to stand up for human rights for all human beings.

Media Contacts:ALISSA GOLOB 587-435-0166
SCOTT HAYWARD 204-573-0296

BACKGROUNDER:

In February 2020, Erin O’Toole stated the following in his Conservative Party of Canada leadership interview with RightNow, “Rights should not trump one another, we should respect the ability for us to have a society where all those rights are respected, and I would extend that to health care professionals. Not only do I think it is possible to do, but it must be done, because we must respect their religious and conscience rights, however they come to their position.”

RightNow 2020 interview with Erin: http://www.itstartsrightnow.ca/erin_otoole_interview
The Conservative Party of Canada policy declaration states that health care professionals do not have to engage in effective referrals, “The Conservative Party supports conscience rights for doctors, nurses, and others to refuse to participate in, or refer their patients for abortion, assisted suicide, or euthanasia.”

Conservative Party of Canada policy declaration (policy no. 68): https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2021/05/04094452/d1effca7a5c8818.pdf

Erin O’Toole et les droits de conscience

L’organisation politique RightNow demande à Erin O’Toole de clarifier si la plateforme du Parti conservateur du Canada n’exigera pas que les professionnels de la santé fassent des aiguillages dans sa politique de conscience

OTTAWA, Ontario (Le 21 août 2021) – L’organisation politique RightNow demande à Erin O’Toole de confirmer qu’il n’obligera pas les professionnels de la santé à faire des aiguillages pour des procédures médicales qui ne sont pas nécessaires, comme le suicide assisté par un médecin.

« Pendant la course à la chefferie du Parti conservateur du Canada de 2020, Erin O’Toole a promis aux pro-vie qu’il protégerait les droits de conscience des professionnels de la santé de partout au Canada, » a dit Scott Hayward, co-fondateur et président de RightNow. « En raison de ses commentaires de hier à Winnipeg, il semblerait maintenant que sa politique exige que les professionnels de la santé aiguillent des patients vers leurs collègues pour des procédures qui ne sont pas médicalement nécessaires, comme le suicide assisté par un médecin. »

« Erin O’Toole a fait marche arrière en revenant sur une promesse clef faite aux pro-vie lors de la course à la chefferie de l’an dernier » a dit Alissa Golob, co-fondatrice de RightNow. « Le Parti conservateur du Canada est uni par rapport à ce point, ayant adopté une motion au congrès politique qui déclare précisément que les professionnels de la santé n’auraient pas à participer en faisant des aiguillages quand il s’agit de suicide assisté et d’autres procédures, comme l’avortement. »

« Je sais que de nombreux pro-vie étaient emballés quand cette politique fut annoncée lundi comme faisant partie de l’ensemble de la plateforme de campagne. Toutefois, la politique de droits de conscience pour les professionnels de la santé est essentiellement caduque s’ils doivent aiguiller leurs patients pour des procédures médicales qui ne sont pas nécessaires, comme le suicide assisté par un médecin, » a dit Hayward.

« Notre organisation demande officiellement à Erin O’Toole de maintenir la position qu’il avait lors de la dernière course à la chefferie et de clarifier publiquement qu’un gouvernement conservateur sous Erin O’Toole n’exigera pas que les professionnels de la santé fassent des aiguillages pour leurs patients quand il s’agit de procédures médicales auxquelles ils objectent moralement, comme le suicide assisté, » a dit Golob.

Au sujet de RightNow :

RightNow est un organisme sans but lucratif qui se dévoue à nominer et faire élire des candidats pro-vie, ainsi qu’à éduquer et mobiliser les Canadiens pro-vie au sein du processus politique. Peu importe leurs croyances religieuses, leur affiliation politique ou leurs origines, RightNow travaille avec des gens de tout le pays qui défendent les droits humains pour tous les êtres humains.

Coordonnées pour les médias :

ALISSA GOLOB 587-435-0166
SCOTT HAYWARD 204-573-0296

DOCUMENT D’INFORMATION :

En février 2020, lors de son entrevue avec RightNow au sujet de la course à la chefferie conservatrice, Erin O’Toole a fait la déclaration suivante : « Les droits ne devraient pas avoir préséance les uns sur les autres, nous devrions respecter notre capacité d’avoir une société où tous ces droits sont respectés et c’est quelque chose que j’appliquerais à tous les professionnels de la santé. C’est non seulement quelque chose qu’il est possible de faire, mais c’est quelque chose qui doit être fait, parce que nous devons respecter les droits de conscience et les droits religieux peu importe comment ils sont arrivés à la position qu’ils ont. »

L’entrevue de RightNow avec Erin: http://www.itstartsrightnow.ca/erin_otoole_interview

L’énoncé de politique du Parti conservateur du Canada déclare que les professionnels de la santé n’ont pas à faire d’aiguillages : « Le Parti conservateur soutient la liberté de conscience des médecins, des infirmiers et autres personnes et leur droit de refuser de participer à l’avortement, au suicide assisté ou à l’euthanasie et d’aiguiller leurs patients vers de tels services. »

L’énoncé de politiques du Parti conservateur du Canada (politique numéro 68): https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04094606/0dc0d59fda297a1.pdf

A refreshing change on the campaign trail — crystal clear answers from a politician

Erin O’Toole is selling a plan he seems to understand back to front. And that is distressingly rare in Canadian politics

National Post

Chris Selley

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole used an interesting word this week, at least twice, while answering questions from reporters. The word was “yes.” It’s a simple word, but Canadian politicians will often turn rhetorical cartwheels to avoid using it (or its cousin, “no”). When a reporter concludes a question with “yes or no?” it’s a near-guarantee the response won’t contain either, let alone begin with it.

O’Toole has been asked repeatedly this week whether his support for a woman’s right to choose an abortion conflicts with his platform pledge to “protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals.” His reasonable response: a “balanced approach” can accommodate both at the same time. Canadian society balances all kinds of competing rights every day.

On Friday in a very wet Winnipeg, though, he was asked directly whether a doctor with a conscientious objection to abortion would have to refer a woman to someone else willing to consult or perform it. “Yes,” O’Toole said, “they will have to refer, because the right to those services exists across the country.”

Crystal clear. . . . continue reading

O’Toole says doctors must refer for services they object to, reversing pledge

CTV News

Christopher Reynolds

WINNIPEG — Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says he believes doctors must refer patients seeking services like abortion or medical assistance in dying to another provider if they object to performing these procedures themselves.

O’Toole faced questions Friday about his position on conscience rights for health professionals after a promise to uphold them appeared in his party’s election platform.

“They will have to refer, because the rights to access those services exist across the country,” he told reporters at a campaign stop in Winnipeg.

“We have to respect conscience rights but allow there to be referrals.” . . . continue reading

The Conservatives’ murky position on ‘conscience rights’ in health care

The Tory platform says the party will protect conscience rights in health care, but won’t say whether that might restrict access to abortion or deny care to trans people

Maclean’s

Justin Ling

Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives won’t say whether their plan to extend ‘conscience rights’ to doctors, nurses and health-care providers will permit denying care to LGBTQ people.

O’Toole was hammered on the campaign trail on Thursday over a line in his platform which pledges that his hypothetical future government will “protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals.”

It’s language that comes directly from a coalition of faith-based organizations which are hoping to protect religious and socially conservative doctors who want to opt-out of providing care they don’t believe in. . . continue reading

What is ‘conscientious objection’? Here’s why major parties are talking about it

Global News

David Lao

As the campaign for the 2021 federal election continues, one controversial topic looks to be coming right to the forefront — whether health-care professionals are obligated to provide care for service they morally oppose, or at least refer the patient to another doctor.

At issue is what’s known as conscientious objection: when health-care practitioners refuse to do or refer patients for a medical procedure that is against their belief such as abortions, medical assistance in dying or even gender-reassignment surgery.

The conversation comes as Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole was pressed on Thursday to clarify a promise in his party’s platform, under the section detailing human rights, to “protect the conscience rights of health-care professionals.”

“The challenges of dealing with COVID-19 have reminded us of the vital importance of health care professionals — the last thing Canada can afford to do is drive any of these professionals out of their profession. We will also encourage faith-based and other community organizations to expand their provision of palliative and long-term care,” read the promise.

O’Toole refused to say whether that means he believes doctors and nurses should be able to refuse to refer their patients to a willing practitioner who can offer the medical care being sought. . . continue reading