(Correspondence) The Code of ethcs: abortion referral


Paul Cameron, May Cohen, Linda Rapson, Wendell W Watters (Doctors for the Repeal of the Abortion Law)

Canadian Medical Association Journal, CMAJ
Canadian Medical Association Journal

Extract
Mr. Geekie explains that the ethics committee changed the code to prevent patients from being “abandoned – a result that was not in keeping with the tenets of the profession.” . . . If the profession follows Mr. Geekie’s guidelines the new code will result in a lower level of care for Canadian women faced with unwanted pregnancies. Antiabortion physicians now have an ethical green light to send such women on an endless round of pointless, time-consuming referrals until it may be too late to interrupt the pregnancy. . . .If ambiguity exists in the present code of ethics it should be eliminated, if necessary by return to the old code, which allowed women to find their own way to help without this form of “assistance”.


Cameron P, Cohen M, Rapson L, Watters WW. (Correspondence) The Code of ethcs: abortion referral. Can Med Assoc J. 1978 Apr 22;118(8):890, 895.