Urgent – Last Day for Feedback!
Having been traveling this past week I’ve been rather disconnected time-wise, and as it turns out, today is the last day the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan are accepting feedback on the revised medical draft. Not sure what the fuss is about? Check out this video:
The revised document is available on the College’s website in the survey that is open for feedback, which is mostly hidden, but is on the right hand side of the front page in a navigation bar.
I’ll cut to the chase – there are still the implications in the revised document that curtail doctors’ rights to conscientious freedom. The Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada has offered an alternative draft, removing the disputed parts with acceptable terminology that support doctors’ freedom, which can be read here.
This is the feedback that I submitted, which is drawn from a facebook group, “We Stand for Health Professionals With Integrity.” Feel free to use it as is (obviously altering your name) and/or alter the text as you see fit. Just know, TODAY is the last day.
My concerns are:
1. The draft policy requires physicians to “make arrangements” for the patient to see another physician for information about a controversial procedure, or for the procedure itself (abortion, contraception, etc) Making arrangements has the same moral implications as a referral. Future councils could interpret the phrase “make arrangements” to be the same as referral.
2. The draft policy requires physicians to perform controversial procedures in certain circumstances. Reference to the “well being” of the patient has lead to concerns that the policy might be used to force physicians to perform euthanasia.
3. Whatever parameters are agreed upon in this policy are likely to follow through to the new assisted death policy.I support the revisions to the policy proposed by CPL, CFCPS and CMDS
There is no reason to take away conscience protection to ensure patient access.Jane Korvemaker, a very concerned citizen.