Physicians in Ontario could be just weeks away from putting their medical licences on the line if they refuse, as a matter of conscience, to perform procedures which they deem immoral, the National Post reported.

A draft proposal from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario would compel doctors to “place the needs of the patient first” – even when that means they must “set aside their personal beliefs in order to ensure that patients or potential patients are provided with the medical services they require.” They would also be compelled to refer a patient seeking an abortion, for example, to another physician “without delay.”

The document further states that “decisions to restrict medical services offered . . . or to end physician-patient relationships that are based on moral or religious belief may contravene the [Ontario Human Rights] Code and/or constitute professional misconduct.”

College spokeswoman Jill Hefley told the National Post the revised guidelines – a first for Canada – are a necessary adjustment to changes to Ontario’s human rights system that could result in more complaints from patients alleging discrimination on the part of their doctors.

Joseph Ben-Ami, president of the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies, an Ottawa-based think tank, said that it would be reasonable to expect the College to caution its members about the risks they could run in exercising their consciences. But, as he told the National Post, to go further and set out what constitutes professional misconduct arising from their religious or moral convictions “becomes very problematic.”

“I don’t think you can make a sweeping declaration that a doctor or any professional has to ignore matters of conscience in the conduct of their affairs,” he said.

National Post columnist Lorne Gunter denounced the proposal Monday as “yet another example of the tyranny of human rights commissions over our daily lives.”

“It is nothing short of politically correct extortion,” he wrote, “to threaten doctors with their livelihood if they don’t buckle under and practice medicine the way Ontario’s human rights junta thinks it should be practiced.”

Dr. Will Johnston, a Vancouver physician and president of Canadian Physicians for Life, acknowledged that the proposal could create “serious problems” for his membership. “If doctors feel coerced into compromising their deepest convictions as a result of this policy, certainly that’s a problem, not only for the integrity of physicians, but also for the welfare of their patients,” he told LifeSiteNews.com.
The proposal was expected to be presented to the College this week prior to being considered at a meeting next month. In a news release, Johnston said he had written to the College to request a 90-day delay “due to the importance of the issues at stake and the lack of opportunity interested stakeholders were given to comment on the proposal.”

The College’s website states that it welcomes feedback from the public.