Petition to: Hon. David Lametti
Support Freedom of Conscience for Our Doctors
Support Freedom of Conscience for Our Doctors
Ever since the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in 2016, there has been a growing political pressure on medical professionals to participate in these unconscionable acts. Many worry that they will lose their jobs or suffer discrimination if they refuse to actively kill their patients – or if they refuse to refer a patient for killing. In fact, some doctors have already quit their practices and/or left the country because of this troubling situation.
Here in Canada, we need every qualified doctor we can get! We don’t want to lose any - especially the ones who show real integrity in their work.
That’s why we are asking Canadians to voice their support of Bill C-418.
Bill C-418 was brought forward by Conservative MP Dave Anderson as a private member’s bill. It is not a government-sponsored bill, but we would like to see the government adopt it. This Bill is expected to come up for debate in the House of Commons on May 29th, 2019.
With the help of this Bill, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and all other health care providers will be protected from being forced to participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide. If anyone tries to force them to participate, that person would be criminally liable.
This is an important piece of common-sense legislation that all political parties should get behind. As Dave Anderson comments, “I believe it’s time to stand up for doctors and health care providers who aren’t willing to leave their core ethics behind when they’re at a patient’s bedside.”
According to the World Medical Association, “Euthanasia, that is the act of deliberately ending the life of a patient, even at the patient’s own request or at the request of close relatives, is unethical. This does not prevent the physician from respecting the desire of a patient to allow the natural process of death to follow its course in the terminal phase of sickness.”
According to the ancient Hippocratic Oath, a pledge which many doctors continue to uphold, “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.”
If a doctor or other health care professional wants to act with integrity, in accord with ethical standards, then why should anyone try to stop him/her? That’s why we need Bill C-418!
Please sign our petition to the Minister of Justice, asking him to vote in support of this Bill.
Note that the Canadian government uses the euphemism of "MAiD" (Medical Assistance in Dying) to refer to the intentional killing of another human being through euthanasia or assisted suicide.
FOR FURTHER READING
The full text of Bill C-418: http://www.davidanderson.ca/wp-content/uploads/EN-FR-C-418.pdf
The position of the World Medical Association on euthanasia: https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-resolution-on-euthanasia/
The ancient Hippocratic Oath, which doctors have traditionally upheld, and which forbids participation in abortion and euthanasia: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20909
Complete your signature
Sign this petition now!
Petition to: Hon. David Lametti
To Hon. David Lametti,
I would like to voice my support for Bill C-418, the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act.
This Bill would ensure Canada’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers are able to do their jobs with integrity, without being coerced to act against their conscience.
We value our health care professionals, along with their knowledge, training, expertise, and discernment. We respect the decision that many of them make to abstain from participating in euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Many assert that euthanasia and assisted suicide are a violation of medical ethics. This is the long-standing position of the World Medical Association. It is also the position of the ancient Hippocratic Oath. Many also express religious and moral objections over taking the life of another human being.
Some object so strongly that they would rather leave their profession than participate in these acts.
No doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider should feel pressured to act against his/her conscience, or should be at risk of demotion or termination from employment for simply acting in accord with his/her training, ethics, and sincerely-held beliefs.
Therefore, in support of our Canadian medical professionals, and in consideration of our Charter of Rights and its respect for conscience, I am asking you to lend your support to Bill C-418.
Petition to: Hon. David Lametti
To Hon. David Lametti,
I would like to voice my support for Bill C-418, the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act.
This Bill would ensure Canada’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers are able to do their jobs with integrity, without being coerced to act against their conscience.
We value our health care professionals, along with their knowledge, training, expertise, and discernment. We respect the decision that many of them make to abstain from participating in euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Many assert that euthanasia and assisted suicide are a violation of medical ethics. This is the long-standing position of the World Medical Association. It is also the position of the ancient Hippocratic Oath. Many also express religious and moral objections over taking the life of another human being.
Some object so strongly that they would rather leave their profession than participate in these acts.
No doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider should feel pressured to act against his/her conscience, or should be at risk of demotion or termination from employment for simply acting in accord with his/her training, ethics, and sincerely-held beliefs.
Therefore, in support of our Canadian medical professionals, and in consideration of our Charter of Rights and its respect for conscience, I am asking you to lend your support to Bill C-418.
