{"id":10999,"date":"2018-11-13T01:08:30","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T06:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/?p=10999"},"modified":"2020-10-23T12:04:59","modified_gmt":"2020-10-23T16:04:59","slug":"leaf-files-factum-in-christian-medical-and-dental-society-of-canada-et-al-v-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-of-ontario","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/fr\/news\/leaf-files-factum-in-christian-medical-and-dental-society-of-canada-et-al-v-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-of-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"LEAF Files Factum in Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada et al. v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Tuesday, November 13, 2018<\/em>, the Women\u2019s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) filed its factum with the Ontario Court of Appeal in Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada et al. v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society has challenged the College\u2019s Human Rights Policy and Medical Assistance in Dying Policy, both of which require doctors who are not willing to provide certain kinds of care\u2014including contraception and abortion services\u2014on religious grounds to provide patients with an \u201ceffective referral\u201d to another physician. The policies also require doctors to provide emergency services, for example emergency abortions for women experiencing life-threatening pregnancies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEAF will argue that the policies advance women\u2019s Charter<\/em> rights by affirming their autonomy and ability to make personal decisions that affect their physical and psychological health and well-being. They will also argue that the ability to control and make choices about their reproductive health is central to women\u2019s equality. An effective referral is the only realistic option for women to receive equitable access to care and exercise their reproductive rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany women already face systemic barriers to accessing reproductive health services,\u201d says LEAF Executive Director & General Counsel Shaun O\u2019Brien, \u201csuch as financial cost, lack of access to sexual health education and information, lack of access to abortion facilities, and the stigma associated with this care. We believe the CPSO policies advance women\u2019s equality, and this vastly outweighs the impact on physicians being required to provide a referral.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n