Should doctors be allowed to refuse MAID for religious reasons? Poll finds ‘deep divide’ among Canadians

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Canadians are split about whether doctors should be allowed to refuse to provide medical assistance in dying for religious reasons, according to a new survey.

Research Co. found most Canadians disagree with faith-based objections to providing care to LGBTQ2S+ patients, but that there is a “deep divide” on the question of MAID.

Some 42 per cent of respondents said they disagree that health-care providers should be allowed to refuse MAID for moral or religious reasons, while 41 per cent said such refusals should be permitted.

The remaining 17 per cent said they weren’t sure.

“On a regional basis, opposition to moral or faith-based objections in physician-assisted death cases is highest in Alberta (47%), followed by Atlantic Canada (45%), Quebec (44%), Ontario (41%), British Columbia (also 41%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (36%),” Research Co. said in a news release Thursday.

Pollsters found opposition to religious refusals was higher among older Canadians — those age 55 and up — compared to younger demographics.

• Related: Read the full survey results

Doctors are not legally compelled to provide MAID, and not all health-care providers do—including those at Providence Health Care in B.C.

The Catholic health authority does not help patients end their lives or determine their eligibility to do so, noting on its website that those individuals are discharged and “transferred to a non-PHC location.”

Research Co. found less support for allowing doctors to refuse abortion services for religious reasons, with only 38 per cent of respondents agreeing that should be permitted and 48 per cent opposed. The other 14 per cent said they weren’t sure.

The online survey was conducted from March 22 to 24 among 1,001 adults in Canada, with the data statistically weighted according to census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, according to Research Co.