These are notes I took from the afternoon today. Larry the CMDS Executive Director and Alberto the lawyer for the fight for conscience spoke at length. I only captured a bit of the jist of the matter. There was so much to hear and so manny slides. But I share this here. Please forgive the typos and missed bits. I trust there’s enough left of the very fine presentations to appreciate all that is transpiring in this matter right now.
Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience
June 2016-May 2017
Presentation by Larry Worthen, Executive Director
Help Protect Conscience Rights Across Canada
Coalition
-founded Jan 2016
Enterprises Consultants and Ensight Consultation
Consultants on retainer
coalition - ‘taking a patients right violates at least one of the following:
Hippocratic Oath
Religions convictions
etc
members
Evangelical fellowship of canada
Catholic society
Salvation army
Canadian Physics for Life
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Achdiocese of Toronto
etc
Bill C-14 passed June 2015 legalized euthanasia
-huge shift in medical care in Canada
-must acknowledge the stress doctors are under
-profession had shifted and was supporting something completely foreign
-intense disappointment and concern
-Margaret Cottle presentation and poetry - got into the hearts
-grieving the change
-if we are to survive these changes the Lord will pull us together
-professional reputation is important to physicians and hard to be vulnerable with each other
-physicians expressed the isolation and feeling the seismic shift , that some colleagues and some patients were no longer in line with them that they were no longer in line with this (euthanasia).
since June 2016
Federal government lobbying
‘nothing in this section would require an individual to provide or assist in the provision of MAID’
conservative private members Bill unsuccessful
ecumenical press conference - Christians, Jews, Muslims all religious people represented saying they don’t like this.
-Christians have been the greatest barrier to success - a lot of Christians are so beaten down by this culture and we give up…..don’t believe this is the Lord’s will for Canada but we’re all brain washed with this whole secularist agenda - we’re programmed into slavery
=Senate Consience amendment defeated
-Christians of all denominations in power positions voted against us….they have their own conscience problems - they feel bowing down to power is better than to follow faith..
-15-20 meetings in Toronto with Ontario officials
discussed palliative care as well as individual and facilities protection
the abortion issue is under the euthanasia issue
conscience rights, the CPSO, College, requires doctors to provide a referral for medical assistance in dying -
we were faced with perception that we would not accept LGBT community
The Cardinal advised them that Catholics and Christians were among the first to respond to Aids in Canada
No other foreign jurisdiction requires MAID referrals
Ontarion hyman Rights and Charter of Rights and Freedoms protect people from discrimination based on religion conscience or creed
CPSO experts insist conscientiously objections phsyciins leave family medicine, palliative care and move to cosmetic surgery or pathology - this attitude is embedded within the structure
Udo Schulen - ‘doctors must put patient interests before their own integrity” If this means doctors leave the practice of medicine so be it.
Explicit support from Conservatives and to a lesser extent NDP
50 meetings between physicians, MPPs Cabinet ministers and senior beurocrats. Cabinet was impressed that doctors would leave work and come to lobby, that there were young and female and coloured doctors involved.
Legislation 84 Dec. 7 16 - opportunity to include amendment
Ontario announced a ‘care coordination service’….patients can access but physicians must provide referral
Call for Conscience Campaign
-educate Ontarians
made 3 min video
presentation resources - sample pulpit announcement
information for churches to get voters to write MPP
Christians haven’t been good in general in these battles
the others are activitists and their people are activists and they will support and write for a particular candidate, they tow the party line, they all work together, they’re better organized.
the Christians - are splintered and don’t talk to each other , catholics don’t talk to catholics in next parish, we’re only learning to be collaborative and activist using the techniques that have been winning against us, we are so individualistic
we were first using the same people used in election campaigns, working with doctors, faith communities, data base of 25000 supporters
our problem was we had few doctors
we allow our petty differences stand in the way of working together as Christians doing what the Lord wants to do through us.
present data base is 28,000
estimated 25, 000 letters went to mrs
130 member churches contacted at least twice by evangelical fellowship of canada
meetings held at synagogues
All chaotic bisihops in On participated
$40,000 raised from web site for legal expenses
Some liberal media were supportive, unheard of in Canada
Conservative proposed amendments
Government didn’t support amendments
Physicians are still required to provide referrals
Care Coordination Service
-patient can access directly
MOHLTC says physicians must call to the name of a doctor who will do assessment and make connection between doctor and patient and provide relevant information to the other physicians
-College sees you as criminal if you do not participate -
Dr. Cottle - CMPA at Palliative Care a year ago - lawyer said patients had charter right to have - lawyer said ‘we’d defend you but don’t expect it to end well’
hence need for court case as a group
Lessons Learned
-we made progress lobbying
-Christians care about conscience and will write letters to their MPP”s
-our attitude can lead us to limit what God can do
-Doctors most effective media approach is
—-describe the emotional impact of being forced to be involved in killing a patient
—-Secularism has replaced pluralism among the governing elites.
Anyone who wants to be a doctor , lawyer or teacher who is a Christian might as well forget it.
We’re bilingual and we operate in secular world and Christian world but there are these people who believe only in the Secular Religion.
It’s evil and immoral.
It’s a spiritual battle.
The ‘silent majority’ must be silent no longer
must come ‘out of the closet’ in the public square and professional
Requires adopting the mindset of the beatitudes
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you MT 5:11-12
This is an inconvenient truth in the scriptures.
We must stop being anonymous Christians
We as Christian are afraid to get out of bed to face the day but do because we must to receive the blessings the Lord has promised.
Alberto, the lawyer, presentation
Update on the Case
2 challenges - physician obligations
assisted suicides
named the leading Rabbi’s, Ethicists and Researchers, world famous persons who showed that in other jurisdictions there was no requirement for doctors to make referrals and that euthanasia operated without difficulty.
conscientious objection - historical approach given - maintaining the physicians moral objectivity is essential to the profession
countering the narrative that Christians are anti abortion , anti euthanasia, anti LGBT , ant Homeless and all these people will be abandoned but this is not the case
no other regime in the world requires conscientious objectors to refer people
a group of pro abortion people came forward insisting that if doctors aren’t forced to refer then vulnerable people will be without abortion or euthanasia yet despite this bias and this propaganda the evidence doesn’t support this.
nurse expert gave opinion confirming that providing referrals for something that is morally repugnant causes equivalent of ptsd - ‘moral distress’
health care system in Ontario can and should be able to accommodate moral objection
our material is 21 volumes of evidence
most of arguments done in writing
lots of paper
6-12 months for decision
we can win but if we don’t win we will go to the supreme court and that could be another 5 years
I enjoyed meeting and talking later with Dr. Jim Lane a BC Physician who has involved himself in this whole area of physicians of conscience
.
Showing posts with label Conscience Protection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conscience Protection. Show all posts
Friday, May 5, 2017
CMDS National Conference 2017: "Singing the Lord's Song in a Foreign Land".
Dr. Anna Borowska encouraged me to attend my first CMDS, Christian Medical and Dental Society, meeting in Vancouver. Something about her genius, beauty and extraordinary operatic voice made me happy to be her church friend. Admittedly she also encouraged me to sing Handel’s Messiah which was utterly beyond my vocal chords. I did buy roller blades and give it a go for a while since she seemed to make it look far easier than it was.
I preferred much better cross country skiing with Dr. Lam. Dr. Lam was more involved with EMAS the missionary wing at the time of CMDS and was so kind to share his testimony with me. Truly inspiring, he had a painting of Jesus he’d made when he was young and felt moved to express his devotion in just this way. When times are tough I can still see that picture in my mind’s eye and remember Dr. Lam’s kindness and wisdom. I had attended fellowship meetings at Dr. Robin and Margaret Cottle’s home, singing praise with students long before I heard them the lead the whole of CMDS in hymns and worship.
Dr. Willie and Anita Gutowski invited me to join them at my first CMDS meeting in Gimli Manitoba. Growing up in Winnipeg I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Mom and Dad and then spend spiritual time with Willie and Anita. They were my closest connection to Dr. Albert Schweitzer’ whose moving story had contributed to my entering medicine. Anita, a nurse, and Willie a physician had done missionary work in Africa for years. He and his family are living Bibles to me personally. Later. Dr. Phillip Ney, the most extraordinary sailor, physician, psychiatrist, founder of Mount Joy College,pro life advocate and creator of Hope Alive Group Therapy would be another mentor who encouraged me to attend CMDS, this time in Edmonton. We call him a prophet as he rails against the growing lust for killing in Canadian society. If he were here today he'd be lamenting the motherless child and talking of the slippery slope. One step ahead of the crowd you're a leader. Two steps ahead, you're a martyr.
I am blessed to be in communion with such remarkable Christians. They live their faith and so many are evangelicals who do missionary work as well. I’ve also been amazed at the quality of CME. Dr. Allan Ronald, microbiologist and Order of Canada recipient presented one memorable year on his work fighting AIDS in Africa. It shouldn’t surprise me. The most read daily reflections of Christians is “My Utmost for His Highest”. We’re not known as slackers. Christians physicians have been and continue to be the foremost leaders of clinical and research medicine. They are the salt of the earth.
In Edmonton I enjoyed that the conference was in combination with Catholics. I am an ecumenical Christian an Anglican but only loosely denominational. The physician who sat next to me told me she’d attended Methodist and United Church but was now a member of a Mennonite congregation. I enjoyed most hearing and sharing with Dr. Abdul Majid Katme, a renowned British pro life Muslim physician when he joined with Dr. Ney in Azerbaijan to discuss Post Abortion Syndrome. Another time I was honoured to attend an Addiction Medicine conference with Dr. Twerki, the famed Rabbi Psychiatrist and author. In Malaysia I travelled on a train with another theist clinician and discussed how often patients come to us having had horrible experiences with atheist clinicians. I feel a kinship in general with spiritual people.
I am enjoying this year’s conference at the Double Tree by Hilton in Downtown Toronto. Next year’s will be in Halifax, again a combination of Catholic and Christian doctors. I really hope to attend if only because I truly love Halifax as one of Canada’s foremost little cities. It has been a while since I had Lobster too. The last time was the year I attended an Addiction Medicine Conference at Harvard and rented a Harley Davidson after to tour the New England coast. I’m due for more lobster. I can always benefit from the CME and Christian fellowship at CMDS.
This year the ethical issue of Conscience Protection is uppermost. More and more Canadians feel the government and it’s totalitarian smitten beurocracies are turning the majority of Canadians into aliens in their only home. Christians need not apply. Quit medicine and leave Canada if you don’t like it, we hear. Shut up and do as you’re told. It’s policy. It’s protocol. Don’t think for yourself. We’ll tell you what is right. All the while the fallacy of the ‘ends against the middle’ rules and ’straw man’ arguments proliferate. The verbal abuse I’ve heard before by officials is shocking. At CMDS I’ve sat with doctors crying as they shared they were leaving clinical practice or going away from Canada because they didn’t feel wanted. Last night I sat with a young compassionate Ontario phsycian who had moved to Alberta because she couldn’t in good faith practice in Ontario. She grew up there, studied there, her mother and father and family reside there but the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario doesn’t want her kind of physician. Their ‘diversity’ excludes Christians.
“I don’t want to kill. I didn’t become a physician to be a part of killing,” another young woman physician told me. Her eyes were glistening.. A grey haired clinician shared that a senior beurocrat had positively gloated when he told him to leave family medicine and go into pathology if he didn’t like killing. The irony is ever lost on the intellectuals. The death culture grows in the consumer society. I walk among them in the DTES where drugs kill hopes and hide the soul. The light goes out. Increasingly no one "really" cares. The patient now a customer is increasingly a commodity. It's not like any of these strangers are Jesus to those who themselves deny the soul. CMDS is always a good reminder for me. I remember one year Dr. Margaret Cottle said at a presentation, "It may seem like we're losing but I read a good book that says we win in the end." I loved the applause that day Today there was laughter too and we all applauded and stood for speakers and gathered together for prayer.
I preferred much better cross country skiing with Dr. Lam. Dr. Lam was more involved with EMAS the missionary wing at the time of CMDS and was so kind to share his testimony with me. Truly inspiring, he had a painting of Jesus he’d made when he was young and felt moved to express his devotion in just this way. When times are tough I can still see that picture in my mind’s eye and remember Dr. Lam’s kindness and wisdom. I had attended fellowship meetings at Dr. Robin and Margaret Cottle’s home, singing praise with students long before I heard them the lead the whole of CMDS in hymns and worship.
Dr. Willie and Anita Gutowski invited me to join them at my first CMDS meeting in Gimli Manitoba. Growing up in Winnipeg I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Mom and Dad and then spend spiritual time with Willie and Anita. They were my closest connection to Dr. Albert Schweitzer’ whose moving story had contributed to my entering medicine. Anita, a nurse, and Willie a physician had done missionary work in Africa for years. He and his family are living Bibles to me personally. Later. Dr. Phillip Ney, the most extraordinary sailor, physician, psychiatrist, founder of Mount Joy College,pro life advocate and creator of Hope Alive Group Therapy would be another mentor who encouraged me to attend CMDS, this time in Edmonton. We call him a prophet as he rails against the growing lust for killing in Canadian society. If he were here today he'd be lamenting the motherless child and talking of the slippery slope. One step ahead of the crowd you're a leader. Two steps ahead, you're a martyr.
I am blessed to be in communion with such remarkable Christians. They live their faith and so many are evangelicals who do missionary work as well. I’ve also been amazed at the quality of CME. Dr. Allan Ronald, microbiologist and Order of Canada recipient presented one memorable year on his work fighting AIDS in Africa. It shouldn’t surprise me. The most read daily reflections of Christians is “My Utmost for His Highest”. We’re not known as slackers. Christians physicians have been and continue to be the foremost leaders of clinical and research medicine. They are the salt of the earth.
In Edmonton I enjoyed that the conference was in combination with Catholics. I am an ecumenical Christian an Anglican but only loosely denominational. The physician who sat next to me told me she’d attended Methodist and United Church but was now a member of a Mennonite congregation. I enjoyed most hearing and sharing with Dr. Abdul Majid Katme, a renowned British pro life Muslim physician when he joined with Dr. Ney in Azerbaijan to discuss Post Abortion Syndrome. Another time I was honoured to attend an Addiction Medicine conference with Dr. Twerki, the famed Rabbi Psychiatrist and author. In Malaysia I travelled on a train with another theist clinician and discussed how often patients come to us having had horrible experiences with atheist clinicians. I feel a kinship in general with spiritual people.
I am enjoying this year’s conference at the Double Tree by Hilton in Downtown Toronto. Next year’s will be in Halifax, again a combination of Catholic and Christian doctors. I really hope to attend if only because I truly love Halifax as one of Canada’s foremost little cities. It has been a while since I had Lobster too. The last time was the year I attended an Addiction Medicine Conference at Harvard and rented a Harley Davidson after to tour the New England coast. I’m due for more lobster. I can always benefit from the CME and Christian fellowship at CMDS.
This year the ethical issue of Conscience Protection is uppermost. More and more Canadians feel the government and it’s totalitarian smitten beurocracies are turning the majority of Canadians into aliens in their only home. Christians need not apply. Quit medicine and leave Canada if you don’t like it, we hear. Shut up and do as you’re told. It’s policy. It’s protocol. Don’t think for yourself. We’ll tell you what is right. All the while the fallacy of the ‘ends against the middle’ rules and ’straw man’ arguments proliferate. The verbal abuse I’ve heard before by officials is shocking. At CMDS I’ve sat with doctors crying as they shared they were leaving clinical practice or going away from Canada because they didn’t feel wanted. Last night I sat with a young compassionate Ontario phsycian who had moved to Alberta because she couldn’t in good faith practice in Ontario. She grew up there, studied there, her mother and father and family reside there but the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario doesn’t want her kind of physician. Their ‘diversity’ excludes Christians.
“I don’t want to kill. I didn’t become a physician to be a part of killing,” another young woman physician told me. Her eyes were glistening.. A grey haired clinician shared that a senior beurocrat had positively gloated when he told him to leave family medicine and go into pathology if he didn’t like killing. The irony is ever lost on the intellectuals. The death culture grows in the consumer society. I walk among them in the DTES where drugs kill hopes and hide the soul. The light goes out. Increasingly no one "really" cares. The patient now a customer is increasingly a commodity. It's not like any of these strangers are Jesus to those who themselves deny the soul. CMDS is always a good reminder for me. I remember one year Dr. Margaret Cottle said at a presentation, "It may seem like we're losing but I read a good book that says we win in the end." I loved the applause that day Today there was laughter too and we all applauded and stood for speakers and gathered together for prayer.
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