- © 2007 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
A recent editorial in CMAJ1 and subsequent letters to the editor have raised several questions about the Canadian Medical Association's position on induced abortion. I would like to clarify that position with this illustrative case.
Case: You are a family physician practising at a community health care centre. A 25-year-old patient recently had a positive pregnancy test and estimates that she is 7 weeks' pregnant. She asks if you will perform a therapeutic abortion. If not, will you refer her right away to someone who will perform it? You are morally opposed to abortion. What are your obligations to this patient?
Discussion: CMA policy2 states that “a physician should not be compelled to participate in the termination of a pregnancy.” In addition, “a physician whose moral or religious beliefs prevent him or her from recommending or performing an abortion should inform the patient of this so that she may consult another physician.”
You should therefore advise the patient that you do not provide abortion services. You should also indicate that because of your moral beliefs, you will not initiate a referral to another physician who is willing to provide this service (unless there is an emergency).
However, you should not interfere in any way with this patient's right to obtain the abortion. At the patient's request, you should also indicate alternative sources where she might obtain a referral. This is in keeping with the obligation spelled out in the CMA policy: “There should be no delay in the provision of abortion services.”
Footnotes
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Editor's note: We received a large number of letters in response to the editorial by Rodgers and Downie, with particular regard to the CMA's policy on induced abortion. We asked the CMA to assist our readers by clarifying their position using a case-based example, which they have provided here. We will not publish any further letters on this topic, unless they present new information or state a new position on this matter.