Media Releases
April-June, 2000

23 June, 2000 (Embargo until 25 June, 2000)

The All-Party Oireachtais Committee on the Constitution has received a written submission from Protection of Conscience Project on the need for laws to protect health care workers and others from coercion and discrimination.

Project Administrator Sean Murphy noted that the focus of the submission was different from that of the recent Committee hearings. "This submission is not about abortion," he wrote, "but about freedom of conscience in relation to morally controversial medical procedures."

"Unfortunately," he explained, "discussions about such procedures have not always been accompanied by sufficient reflection about their impact on those who object to them for reasons of conscience."

Mr. Murphy observed that when the procedure in question is objectionable to large numbers of people, it is usually assumed that no one would be forced to participate in it. The submission cites a number of cases to make the point that, in the long run, this is not the case.

The Project does not recommend specific measures, leaving such questions for the consideration of the Committee: "If there is or will be a need for protection of conscience legislation in Ireland, that need will have to be articulated by Irish citizens, and laws and policies framed according to the circumstances prevailing in Ireland."

The submission to the Committee is available on-line through the Project website at www.consciencelaws.org/Archive/Irishcommittee.html.

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For further information, contact Sean Murphy at 604-485-9765 or protection@consciencelaws.org

Preass-Ráiteas

Chuir Riarthóir an Phróiseas, Sean ó Murchu, in úil go bhfuil béim an phléadáil o chuile éisteachtai eile an Choiste go dáta. "Ní faoi geinmhilleadh,@ adeir sé, "ach faoi saoirse choinsiasa, chomh fada is a bhaineann sé le cursai leighis faoi lathair, ata na smaointe seo.@

Sean Murphy (604) 485-9765 protection@consciencelaws.org

For release 5 June, 2000

FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE RECOGNIZED

Pharmacists in Manitoba have decided that they should not be forced to be involved in medical procedures that they find morally abhorrent.

The Annual General Meeting of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association adopted a policy that pharmacists may refuse to dispense certain drugs for reasons of conscience. Such policies exist in the United States, but it is believed that this is the first time a pharmacists’ association in Canada has formally recognized the importance of freedom of conscience.

News of the development was conveyed to the Protection of Conscience Project in a letter from Ronald F. Guse, Registrar of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association.

The Association rejected a clause that would have forced conscientious objectors to involve themselves by making a referral to another pharmacist.

"Pharmacists in Manitoba who voted for this measure should be congratulated and thanked by their colleagues," said Sean Murphy, Administrator of the Protection of Conscience Project. "The present concern among conscientious objectors is the so-called ‘morning-after-pill’. However, if non-objecting pharmacists do not support their colleagues on this issue, they should expect no support if they object to dispensing drugs for assisted suicide, euthanasia, and execution by lethal injection."

"If that seems somewhat far-fetched," Murphy added, "the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia is already speculating about the expansion of pharmacy services to include such procedures."

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For further information, call Sean Murphy at 604-485-9765 or e-mail protection@consciencelaws.org.

*PRESS RELEASE*

June 5, 2000

PRESS RELEASE  April 12/00

     Pharmacists for Life International/Canada opposes the controversial policy decision by the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia in which pharmacists in that province will be facing increased pressure to be distributors of death-causing products and services.

     Mr. Michael Izzotti, Coordinator of PFLI/Canada, stated in an information bulletin today that "to supply death causing products and services from a pharmacy (a health care facility) flies in the face of the promotion of appropriate practices the pharmaceutical profession has engaged in for the last 15-20years".
    
    Mr. Izzotti further stated that "the push by the College of Pharmacists of BC to pressure the professionals that they regulate to supply the controversial products and services that the College suggests, represents a travesty in health care".  This is in direct contradiction to the Hippocratic Oath which many noble and honorable medical practitioners have taken and are committed to follow.

     A recent BC College bulletin(1) article, "Ethics in Practice", suggests that pharmacists may have a conscientious or moral objection to future services that "might expand to include, preparation of drugs to assist voluntary or involuntary suicide, cloning, genetic manipulation or even execution". These products & services and some others mentioned in that article in fact are not necessarily "recognized" nor "legitimate" services to be expected from a pharmacy.

   In light of the above concerns, and considering that similar concerns are arising in Alberta,  PFLI/Canada extends it support to Alberta's Bill 212 prepared by Julius Yankowsky, which would insure Human Rights protection regarding Freedom of Conscience to all health care workers.  In addition, PFLI/Canada encourages federal conscience legislation to be enacted.

For further information, please call
Michael Izzotti, Coordinator PFLI/Canada, 905-528-4828

(1) Bulletin of the College of Pharmacists of B.C. Mar/Apr 2000, Vol. 25, No.2


PHARMACISTS FOR LIFE INTERNATIONAL/CANADA
INFORMATION BULLETIN
April 12/00

Due to continuing discussions caused by a controversial policy decision by the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia in which pharmacists in that province will be facing increased pressure to be distributors of death-causing products and services, PFLI/Canada felt it necessary to make these statements at this time. Pharmacists have traditionally been known, trusted and respected for being providers of life saving, health-maintaining-and-restoring products and services, however, the College in B.C. is now suggesting that pharmacists should be involved in the provision of products for ending the life of human beings as well.

The 1st week of May is the scheduled date for certain "trained" pharmacists to be the providers of the abortifacient Morning After Pill with or without a prescription from a doctor. A recent BC College bulletin article, "Ethics in Practice", suggests that pharmacists may have a conscientious or moral objection to future services that "might expand to include, preparation of drugs to assist voluntary or involuntary suicide, cloning, genetic manipulation or even execution". These products & services and some others mentioned in that article in fact are not necessarily "recognized" nor "legitimate" services to be expected from a pharmacy.

To supply death causing products and services from a pharmacy (a health care facility) flies in the face of the promotion of appropriate practices the pharmaceutical profession has engaged in for the last 15-20years.  These appropriate practices include: encouraging pharmacists to provide more cognitive services, (e.g. being a drug information resource for the community, resolving drug related problems, providing increased patient counselling etc); other practices include, emphasis to provide greater communication with the public and to promote proper pharmaceutical care for all human beings especially those most vulnerable and needing our unique knowledge and skills. These vulnerable people should include, the child in utero, the elderly and disabled people.

The push by the College of Pharmacists of BC for pharmacists to supply the controversial products and services, noted above, represents a travesty in health care. It is in direct contradiction to the Hippocratic oath which many noble and honourable medical practitioners have taken and are committed to follow.

The policy decision, named above, of the College of Pharmacists of B.C. should be withdrawn because it causes a negative influence on organizations who sponsor provision of pharmaceutical services from their outlets, and a damaging and unhealthy image to our honourable and dignified profession.

It would be much appreciated if these organizations would rather continue to encourage and exhort practitioners in our profession to be the providers of proper pharmaceutical health care services to the public as they have done in the past.

For further information, please call Michael Izzotti, Coordinator
PFLI/Canada, 905-528-4828