Doctors being pressured into professional predicaments

Radio show tackles conscience rights in the medical field

By Craig Macartney and ChristianWeek Senior Correspondent | April 24, 2014

OTTAWA, ON—A recent radio call-in show highlighted a growing concern for Christians practicing medicine when it comes to matters of conscience.

Earlier this year three Roman Catholic doctors were thrust into the media spotlight after a radical feminist group took them to task via social media for refusing to prescribe contraceptives or abortions. Responses included a flurry of demands for the doctors’ licences to be revoked.

“It is very disturbing that today there are many pro-abortion organizations saying doctors must refer for abortion and contraception,” says Larry Worthen, executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada (CMDS). “Our concern is that if this pressure is unopposed by Christians, we will get to a point where Christian doctors will have to make a choice between their practice and following their Christian principles.”

Worthen was a special guest on CBC Ontario’s Today radio program which held a one hour call-in show discussing the place of conscience rights in professional settings.

While his goal was to represent the Ottawa doctors and stand up for their right of conscience, Worthen notes that four of the 10 callers were supportive of the doctors.

“Many of the callers who opposed the doctors felt they should check their religious beliefs at the door, that it had nothing to do with their role as a physician. That’s very concerning because under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we all have freedom of conscience and religion.”

Worthen says he has spoken with young Christians who chose not to enter the medical field because they were concerned about being forced into situations they see as immoral. These concerns are amplified by the current push for legalization of euthanasia.

“One disturbing thing about the proposed Bill-52, in Quebec, is that it requires every hospital and nursing home to allow physician-assisted suicide on its premise,” he says. “We are very concerned this will lead to discrimination against physicians who oppose euthanasia. If you apply for a job in palliative care, how do you get a job if there is a whole segment of ‘palliative care’ you are not willing to provide?”

While most public opinion polls claim a majority of Canadians support euthanasia, Worthen says often this is because Canadians don’t understand what physician-assisted suicide really is.

“Most people don’t distinguish between euthanasia and the right to refuse medical treatment,” he explains.

“Physicians-assisted suicide is giving someone the means, like a lethal prescription, to end their life. But most people think you are talking about taking someone off life support.”

Worthen says roughly two-thirds of the medical profession are opposed to euthanasia—and that statistic increases dramatically among doctors providing end-of-life care. He believes Canada is at a critical juncture where, if the Supreme Court legalizes euthanasia, a majority of doctors could be put in positions where they are forced to compromise their moral or religious beliefs.

“There are groups that are specifically targeting conscience protection, trying to remove it,” he says. “We need to make medicine a safe place for Christians and ensure people have the legal protection they need to practice their faith and practice medicine at the same time.”

Yet, despite these trends, Worthen says he is very optimistic.

“I think this is a battle that can be won in Canada. We as Christians need to stand up for our beliefs and support the people who are fighting this. I really believe that if we do, if the individual congregations come to the forefront on this, we can make our influence felt in Canada.”