Breakthrough: freedom of conscience upheld (Canada).

Toronto--While the nurses in Calgary are still being coerced to act against their personal convictions, nurses at Markham-Stouffville Hospital in Ontario have won the legal right to refuse to assist at abortions. After a five-year battle, a mediated settlement was reached April 13, 1999, between the hospital and eight nurses who had filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 1994. One nurse, Aileen George, had also filed a civil suit. Under the terms of the settlement, the hospital has issued a policy which allows all hospital, nursing and medical staff to be excused for religious reasons from performing or assisting in abortion.

The eight nurses, all of whom are either Evangelical Christian or Catholics, had all lost their jobs as a result of refusing to assist in abortions. The case was about to be heard by the Ontario Human Rights Commission when the settlement was reached. It has the Commission's approval. Keith Norton, the chief commissioner, said in a statement that the settlement is "respectful" of the province's Human Rights Code, which protects "sincerely held religious beliefs and practices" (although the commissioner was quick to note this would be without restricting access to abortion).

The nurses hope their victory will provide a precedent. "I want all nurses in the future to have their right to say 'no'," nurse Joanne Van Halteren told Canada's prolife paper The Interim, "This will have a ripple effect." Other nurses can use the Markham-Stouffville agreement as a precedent for negotiations with their hospital.

Those who would like a copy of this "Markham-Stouffville Policy for termination of pregnancy for religious exemption" should contact Catholic Insight.