Consultation feedback on CPSO’s Human Rights in Provision of Health Care Services

I’m not sure what proportion of doctors might refuse to even make a referral, but I would encourage the College to help these physicians move towards provision of the objected-to services or at least effective referrals, by requiring them to partake in Values Clarifications workshops, and to be exposed to patients who need the services they object to (such as by shadowing an abortion provider). [...] Discrimination and undermining of human rights Regarding the definition of Discrimination at the top of your new policy, the problem is that BBCD itself constitutes discrimination. [...] Patients’ best interests The CPSO’s Professional Obligations and Human Rights policy states: “Physicians must act in their patients’ best interests.” The practice of BBCD directly contradicts the ethic of acting in the patient’s best interest, because the very essence of BBCD is the prioritization of doctors’ interests over that of patients. [...] Considering there is no monitoring of objectors or enforcement of these directives, and considering that very few patients can muster the resolve to make a complaint, it is rather disingenuous of the CPSO to issue such declarations. [...] It might be better actually, if the doctor is upfront about their beliefs or even “preaches” to the patient – at least then the patient understands what’s really happening, and the care denier has not deliberately left them ignorant about the true reasons for their refusal (such a lack of transparency would be patronizing, cowardly, and unethical).