Doctors oppose conscience bill

This letter is written by physicians who have privileges at the Grey Nuns and Misericordia Hospital, Covenant Health-run facilities in Edmonton.

We note that Covenant Health has expressed support for Bill 207, but we have significant concerns that this bill will negatively impact patients. Many of our colleagues, including Dr. (Christine) Molnar, president of the Alberta Medical Association, have expressed their concerns about this bill, which threatens access to healthcare services by vulnerable populations.

This bill is perceived to be unnecessary, as there are safeguards already in place for health-care providers who refuse to provide services citing conscientious objection. Physicians are accountable to their regulatory body, and a bill that leaves patients without recourse except litigation when practitioners fail to provide necessary services is not only dangerous but unethical.

As medical professionals, we should provide compassionate and expert care to all populations, especially the vulnerable, despite our varied religious beliefs and backgrounds. Bill 207 potentially limits access to services like abortion, medical assistance in dying and medical care to LGBTQ and visible minorities, as well as those living in rural communities, where a limited number of healthcare providers may preclude them from getting a second opinion. In most situations, patients need more than a website to help them make significant medical decisions.

The potential to jeopardize patient well-being in the name of conscientious objection is worrisome and conflicts with the very essence of the medical practice. Dr. Shelley Duggan and 49 other physicians (see edmontonjournal. com for list)