Category: conscience rights

House Votes Down Conscience Rights Bill for Health-Care Workers

In the House of Commons on Wednesday, MPs voted down a Conservative member’s bill that would have protected the conscience rights of health-care workers unwilling to participate “directly or indirectly” in medical assistance in dying, or MAiD. Bill C-230, introduced in February by Saskatchewan Conservative MP Kelly Block, aimed to amend the Criminal Code to “make it an offence…


Physician Conscience Bill Needed and Timely, Say Ethicists

Two academic ethicists say the pandemic has heightened the importance of the latest parliamentary attempt to give conscience rights to Canadian doctors. Conservative MP Kelly Block introduced Bill C-230, the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act, as a private member’s bill in the House of Commons on Feb. 4. The bill would add a clause…


Arkansas Governor Signs Bill Protecting Conscience Rights for Health Care Providers

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Friday signed into law a bill that protects health care providers from discrimination if they refuse to provide medical services for religious or moral reasons. The bill, known as the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, states that doctors and other health care workers have the right to not participate in a…


Canada’s Religious Freedom in Decline, Says Former Ambassador for Religious Freedom

As Canada’s first and only religious freedom ambassador, Andrew Bennett spoke out for the persecuted faithful in China and Iran as well as other countries notorious for suppressing freedom of belief.  Fortunately, Canadians are not subjected to religious persecution, but Bennett nevertheless warns that there’s been a gradual erosion of religious freedom in Canada that…