Canada
Collège des Médecins du Québec
Policies relevant to freedom of conscience
Links and annotations
Code of Ethics of Physicians (R.S.Q., c. C-26, s.
87) (Updated to 2020 Apr 1)
[Full Text]
24. A physician must, where his personal convictions prevent him from
prescribing or providing professional services that may be appropriate,
acquaint his patient with such convictions; he must also advise him of the
possible consequences of not receiving such professional services.
The
physician must then offer to help the patient find another physician.
Legal, Ethical and Organizational Aspects of Medical Practice in Québec
(ALDO Quebec)
7.1.2 The quality of the professional relationship
(February, 2020)
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Le médecin doit également informer son patient de ses convictions personnelles, de nature morale ou religieuse, qui peuvent l’empêcher de lui recommander ou de lui fournir des services professionnels qui pourraient être appropriés, et l’aviser des conséquences possibles de l’absence de tels services professionnels. Il doit alors offrir au patient de l’aider dans la recherche d’un autre médecin (art. 24).
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A physician must, where his personal convictions, of a moral or religious nature, prevent him from prescribing or providing professional services that may be appropriate, acquaint his patient with such convictions; he must also advise him of the possible consequences of not receiving such professional services. He must then help the patient find another physician (art.24).
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An Act Respecting End-of-Life Care
(Updated to 2021 Oct 31)
31. A physician practising in a centre
operated by an institution who refuses a request for medical aid in dying
for a reason not based on section 29 must, as soon as possible, notify the
executive director of the institution or
any other person designated by the executive director and forward the
request form given to the physician, if that
is the case, to the executive director
or designated person. The executive director of
the institution or designated person must then take the necessary
steps to find, as soon as possible, another
physician willing to deal with the request in accordance with section 29.
If the physician who receives the request practises in a private health
facility and does not provide medical aid in dying,
the physician must, as soon as possible, notify the
executive director of the local authority referred
to in section 99.4 of the Act respecting health services and social services
(chapter S-4.2)that serves the territory in which the patient making the request resides,
or notify the person designated by the executive director. The physician
forwards the request form received, if that is the case, to the executive
director or designated person and the steps mentioned in the first
paragraph must be taken.
If no local authority serves the territory in which the patient resides,
the notice referred to in the second paragraph is forwarded to the executive
director of the institution operating a local community service centre in
the territory or the person designated by the executive director.
50. A physician may refuse to administer
medical aid in dying because of personal convictions, and a health
professional may refuse to take part in administering it for the same
reason. In such a case, the physician or health professional must
nevertheless ensure that continuity of care is provided to the patient, in
accordance with their code of ethics and the patient's wishes. In addition,
the physician must comply with the procedure established in section 31.