The EFC is in court this month seeking intervenor status in a case to protect the conscience rights of doctors, so they do not have to refer their patients for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Here is a simple guide to the case and the issues behind it. Your prayerful and financial support for the EFC make this essential freedom work possible.
Just the facts: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is requiring doctors to provide an effective referral for procedures against their conscientious objection, such as euthanasia and assisted suicide. A court challenge of this policy has been launched by Christian doctors (Evangelicals and Catholics) and several organizations. The EFC is seeking to intervene in this case with the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario to argue for the protection of conscience for doctors.
And now the theology: Christians believe we are stewards of this life, but that it actually belongs to God. God calls us to live the life He has given us. We may decline medical treatment, but it is not for us to choose the timing of our death. For physicians, the right to live out this belief in their workplace is essential. Allowing euthanasia and assisted suicide shifts our medical system from a presumption for life to one in which a patient, amid scarce resources, may feel the need to justify not choosing death. Causing someone to justify their continued care and their very existence denies the dignity we affirm in us all.
Canadian physicians and surgeons need to have their consciences protected if they choose not to participate or actively refer patients for euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Why this case matters so much: This CPSO policy matters greatly to the protection of conscience and life in Canada, as well as for religious freedom in Canada. Religious freedom is one of the first fundamental freedoms listed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is also protected in provincial human rights codes. Religious freedom is also protected in specific areas of federal and provincial legislation, as well as international human rights agreements.
The Charter upholds freedom of religion, but does not define it. The courts are clarifying what this term means and how it is to be applied, including how the Charter protection of religious freedom will be balanced with other Charter guarantees.
History shows that when religious freedom is protected, all other rights and freedoms are more secure. When religious freedom is curtailed, other freedoms are soon compromised and lost.
And what the EFC is doing, with your help: The EFC promotes religious freedom and the freedom of religious communities to exist and flourish. The EFC has intervened in many important legal cases on religious freedom, including this CPSO case. We will be in court again, speaking to this issue and impacting this issue.
Now, what you can do: This CPSO case touches on two vital issues: euthanasia and assisted suicide, and religious freedom and conscience protection. You can be active on both those issues, along with your support to the EFC’s activity protecting life and freedom in Canada.
Many people who are ill or at the end of life are concerned about being a burden and may be afraid of what lies ahead. The compassionate response is to support and encourage them, to provide high quality palliative care, not to end their lives.
You can:
- Reach out to people who are depressed or struggling, living with a terminal illness or a disability
- Offer practical, tangible help to seniors and those with a terminal illness or disability, and their caregivers, by developing or joining existing programs, such as Meals on Wheels
- Support palliative care and hospice programs with your time and/or resources.
The right of doctors to not actively refer their patients to be euthanized is a religious freedom right. Religious freedom needs to be protected or it will be lost.
Also in this issue: Spotlight on the EFC’s presence in Quebec with Pierre Bergeron; On Parliament Hill; Message from the President; What we can expect in Ottawa in 2017.