PREAMBLE
This standard replaces the Moral factors professional standard and provides guidance on managing conflicts of conscience that may arise from a person’s personal beliefs or religious convictions.
This professional standard upholds the rights of all persons licensed under the Medical Act (called “registrants” in this professional standard) who conscientiously object to providing certain treatments or procedures because of their personal beliefs or religious values. At the same time, this standard ensures that patients continue to have fair access to medical care.
This standard is applicable to all clinical contexts in which registrants Act provide patient care, including, but not limited to, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), immunization, reproductive health services, and gender-affirming care.
DEFINITIONS
“Conflict of conscience”: describes a circumstance where a registrant objects to care practices, treatments or procedures because they conflict with their personal, ethical or religious beliefs. (conflit de conscience)
“Freedom of conscience”: Behaviors or beliefs that stem from a registrant’s deeply rooted moral or religious convictions. (liberté de conscience)
MAINTAINING ACCESS TO CARE
A registrant’s exercise of freedom of conscience in limiting the provision of certain health services must not obstruct, either directly or indirectly, access to legally authorized and publicly funded medical care. Such exercise must be conducted in a manner that upholds patient dignity, facilitates access to appropriate care, and ensures patient safety.
OBLIGATIONS
A registrant who objects to providing certain treatments or procedures for reasons of conscience must:
- Communicate to the patient in a timely and respectful manner regarding any treatments or procedures relevant to a patient's condition that they are unable or unwilling to provide due to reasons of conscience, and document all clinical interactions with the patient in accordance with the Patient medical records professional standard,
- Not promote their own moral or religious beliefs when interacting with patients,
- Provide the patient with clear, unbiased and comprehensive information regarding the publicly available resources to support their understanding of how to access the treatments or procedures they are seeking. This information must be delivered in a timely and effective manner to ensure that the patient’s care is not adversely affected, in accordance with the Continuity of care professional standard,
- With the consent of the patient, provide all relevant and available health records to the physician, healthcare professional, agency or service willing to perform the treatment or procedure requested,
- Continue providing unrelated care to the patient until this care is no longer required or wanted, or until another suitable healthcare professional has assumed responsibility for the patient, or until after the patient has been given reasonable notice that you intend to terminate the relationship in accordance with the Termination of care professional standard, and
- Provide care in an emergency, where it is necessary to prevent imminent harm, even where that care conflicts with their conscience or religious beliefs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The College thanks the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan for their assistance in the preparation of this document.
AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS
Medical Act
APPROVALS
Approved by Council: April 2012
Version: 3
Amendments: June 2017, March 20, 2026
REVIEW DATE
December 2030
