ASSISTED SUICIDE – FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE FOR HEALTH PRACTIONERS – 2016

WHEREAS the Canadian House of Commons has passed legislation permitting the wrongful and immoral procedure of assisted suicide;

AND WHEREAS many health institutions, as well as health care providers, such as physicians, nurses and pharmacists, have conscientious objections to participating in assisted suicide, including the referral of patients for assisted suicide, which is to participate in the procedure;

AND WHEREAS Section 2 and Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protect freedom of conscience and religion;

AND WHEREAS despite Section 2 and Section 15 of the Charter of Rights, some provincial Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons have passed regulations that require physicians to refer patients for the wrongful procedure of assisted suicide;

AND WHEREAS health institutions as well as health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others have a right to refuse to participate in assisted suicide;

AND WHEREAS the legislation on assisted suicide fails to explicitly protect health institutions as well as health care practitioners, such as physicians, nurses and pharmacists from conscientiously objecting to participating in the procedure of assisted suicide;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the law on assisted suicide be amended to provide legal protection for health care institutions, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others, who object on grounds of conscience from participating in assisted suicide.