Repression of Conscience
 

Yet More Pharmacists
Who Don’t Understand
Ethics:

Project News Release

Submission on
Model Code of Ethics for
 Canadian Pharmacists

Code of Ethics for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
Ontario College of Pharmacists
(DRAFT 3, March 22, 2005)

Principle Four
The pharmacist and pharmacy technician respects the autonomy, individuality and dignity of each patient and provides care with respect for human rights and without discrimination. No patient shall be deprived of pharmaceutical services because of the personal convictions or religious beliefs of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

Canadian Medical
Association
Joint Statement on
Preventing and Resolving
Ethical Conflicts, I.16

Canadian Medical
Association Position on
Induced Abortion

Establishment Bioethics

Freedom of Conscience
and the Needs
of the Patient

Service or Servitude:
 Reflections on
 Freedom of Conscience
for Health Care Workers

The Silence of Good People
 and Non-cooperation with Evil

In Defence of the New Heretics

Autonomy, Justice, and Accommodation

Pharmacy Colleges
Quash Conscientious
Objection

Project Report 2001-01

by Iain T. Benson©
Executive Director, Centre for Cultural Renewal.
September 9, 2005

The Ontario Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (“HPRAC”)  is holding hearings with respect to a variety of health professional groups.  One of these is the Pharmacists and Pharmacy technicians.   Information on this and the various submissions made to this body may be viewed at: http://www.hprac.org/english/pageDisplay.asp?webDocID=5176#pharmacy 

On March 22, 2005 the Ontario College of Pharmacists made a submission to the HPRAC.  Appendix 5 of this submission dealt with the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians. . . 

Most interesting is Principle 4 which states:

"The pharmacist and pharmacy technician respects the autonomy, individuality and dignity of each patient and provides care with respect for human rights and without discrimination. No patient shall be deprived of pharmaceutical services because of the personal convictions or religious beliefs of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician."

Well, go figure.   For pharmacists and pharmacy technicians the accommodation of religious belief and conscience guaranteed by Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will be suspended should this principle go ahead as drafted.  This is not the approach taken by doctors and the Canadian Medical Association would not endorse this blunt and unfair kind of principle.   Why are Pharmacists deemed to be so different as citizens or professionals that they cannot exercise the full rights of other citizens and professionals?  Why indeed.

There are some by invitation only “focus groups” going ahead this month in Sudbury and Windsor and Ottawa but the deadline for comment has passed.   It might be possible, however, for concerned individuals or groups to make an appearance and express their views.     

If you go to this site, you can find out information on who to contact to make a submission.

But the dates for the focus groups are as follows and here is the information below.

September 13, 2005 – Sudbury
September 14, 2005 – Ottawa
September 20, 2005 – Windsor

For further information please contact:

Karen Lane, Consultation Co-ordinator
Karen.Lane@moh.gov.on.ca
416-325-8928 / toll free 1-888-377-7746

Needless to say, all those concerned with the freedom of expression and belief and the autonomy of citizens (not just health care users but providers as well) ought to be concerned about this unfair and likely unconstitutional approach taken by yet another group of pharmacists.   Just where did these people learn their ethics and who is advising them as to the law in Canada? 

It is time that they dug a little deeper and examined why the doctors do not take the same narrow and frankly totalitarian view of professional practice.

Yet More Pharmacists
Who Don’t Understand
Ethics:

Submission on
Model Code of Ethics for
 Canadian Pharmacists

Canadian Medical
Association
Joint Statement on
Preventing and Resolving
Ethical Conflicts, I.16

Canadian Medical
Association Position on
Induced Abortion

Pharmacy Colleges Quash Conscientious Objection

Project Report 2001-01

Dear Mr. Smitherman:

I am writing to you as the Minister responsible for the Ontario Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (“HPRAC”) because I have not received an answer to an e-mail sent on to Karen Lane, HPRAC Consultation Co-ordinator. The text of the message to Ms. Lane follows:

I understand that the Ontario College of Pharmacists has made a recommendation to the OHPRAC to the effect that freedom of conscience ought to be denied to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. I am advised by concerned pharmacists that those who would have objected to this were unaware that the College was contemplating such a recommendation and were not consulted about it. Similarly, it does not appear that groups representing the interests of religious believers who might be adversely impacted by the adoption of such a recommendation were notified. Certainly, the Project, which has corresponded with the College in the past on the subject, was unaware that the College had taken such a drastic step.

The College cannot have been unaware that this is a most controversial subject. The manner in which it has proceeded is most unfortunate and invites an adverse inference to be drawn with respect to its attitude toward freedom of conscience and religion.

I understand that the deadline for responses to the College's submission has passed. However, I am writing to determine whether or not an extension will be given to permit submissions from those hitherto denied a voice in the proceedings. This would, at least, redress the failure of the College of Pharmacists to consult with those whose fundamental freedoms have been jeopardized by its recommendation

If you do not have the authority to authorize an extension, please provide me with the contact information for the appropriate Deputy Minister or Minister who would have such authority.

What is at issue here is a draft code of ethics for Ontario’s pharmacists that would authorize persecution of any pharmacist who refuses to dispense drugs for reasons of conscience. You can obtain further information about this proposal at http://www.consciencelaws.org/Repression-Conscience/Conscience-Repression-44.htm.

It is now the eve of the meeting of the last of a series of invitation-only “focus groups.” I am disturbed that your Ministry is seeking the endorsement of anonymous, invitation-only “focus groups” to abrogate a fundamental freedom recognized by the Charter of Rights. I am also troubled that representatives of conscientious objectors were excluded from the process that produced the controversial draft.

I request that you authorize an extension of the time permitted for the making of submissions to the end of December, 2005, so that the Project and other interested parties may investigate and respond to the proposal from the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Sincerely,

Sean Murphy,
Administrator

cc: Mr. John Tory, MLA
HPRAC