reports from council
Striking a balance between
physician and patient rights
photos: D.W. Dorken
This is a brief
overview of the
discussions and
decisions made at
the March Council
meeting.
C
ouncil has approved a
policy which affirms
the rights of patients
to access care and
to be treated safely and without
discrimination.
The Professional Obligations
and Human Rights policy underwent two extensive consultations.
Of particular interest among physicians, organizations, members of the
public and media is the section of
the policy that addresses the College’s expectations in circumstances
where physicians limit the services
they provide for reasons of conscience or religion. Such objections
are commonly referred to as conscientious objections.
The policy requires that physicians, who are unwilling to provide
certain elements of care due to their
conscience or religious beliefs, refer
the patient to another health-care
provider. This referral must be an
‘effective referral’, meaning a referral
that is made in good faith, to a nonobjecting, available and accessible
health care provider.
In response to feedback received
during the consultation, the referral requirement was expanded
to allow physicians to also refer
the patient to an agency that will
coordinate and/or provide the
treatment or service to which the
physician objects.
Council was of the opinion that
the referral requirement strikes
an appropriate balance between
physician and patient rights, while
ensuring patient access to care is not
impeded.
The revised policy is attached to
page 19, An article about the policy
is on page 11.
Issue 1, 2015 Dialogue
Issue1_15.indd 15
15
2015-03-19 11:18 AM