Doctor sticks with principles. (News in Brief: Canada).

Barrie, ON--The Barrie Examiner of February 21, highlighted the case of local physician Dr. Stephen Dawson, who is due to face a disciplinary committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The charge: refusing to prescribe birth-control pills. Dr. Dawson, an evangelical Christian, believes that providing contraceptives promotes extramarital sex. He had refused to refer four unmarried women believing they were capable of finding another doctor for themselves.

Dr. Dawson also refuses to arrange for abortions, or to prescribe the morning-after pill, or Viagra for unmarried men. While stating emphatically that he would not compromise on his stance, he has indicated the possibility of apologizing to the complainants for the "overzealous manner in which I presented my case...initially."

Dr. Dawson's case concerns the freedom of conscience of healthcare workers. He himself says, "If a Christian physician must forsake his religious beliefs to maintain his medical licence, we cannot delude ourselves we live in a free country" (Globe, Feb 22/02).

The Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics requires doctors to inform their patients when their personal morality would influence provision (or not) of particular treatments. It further states that they should continue to provide services until another physician has assumed responsibility. Referring his patients to another doctor seemed to Dawson to be "passing the buck" (Star, Feb. 22/02).

The case will be heard April 15-18 in Toronto at 80 College Street. The hearing is open to the public. The College could impose penalties from a reprimand to loss of the licence to practice in Ontario.

Two points: As Toronto Sun columnist Michael Coren pointed out, with birth-control pills available at every corner store, why should anyone be coerced to hand them out? Secondly, the Dawson case proves again that a freedom of conscience clause for health professionals is necessary.