WHEREAS, Bill C-14, the federal legislation which legalized medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada explicitly affirms it is not intended to compel anyone to act against their deeply held beliefs; and

WHEREAS, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario  has adopted the effective referral protocol for MAiD, which may compel healthcare professionals to act contrary to their deeply held beliefs; and

WHEREAS, the effective referral protocol for MAiD is globally unprecedented; and

WHEREAS, there are viable alternatives for the provision of effective access to MAiD that would allow all health care professionals to continue to practice with ethical integrity; and

WHEREAS, this effective referral protocol policy may compel health care professionals to make a dehumanizing choice between their profession and their faith, conscience, or commitment to the Hippocratic Oath;

THEREFORE, we, the undersigned, petition as follows: to immediately take action to protect the conscience rights of Ontario’s health care professionals by abolishing the effective referral protocol for medical assistance in dying.