About the standard
This consultation closed on Jan. 15, 2024.
The Conscientious Objection standard was last reviewed in 2016. Amendments to this standard are intended to better outline expectations for regulated members in navigating ethical dilemmas relating to personal beliefs and patient beliefs. The addition of a preamble, glossary and directions provide more context around when and how regulated members can decline to provide treatment and what must be provided for the patient to ensure they continue to receive high quality care.
What’s changed?
- Addition of a preamble and glossary to provide context for the standard and more detailed definitions;
- Inclusion of clarifying language to better communicate the balance between a regulated members’ right to limit health service based on reasons of conscience, cultural belief or religion and patients’ rights to timely access to safe, high-quality care;
- Section added to clearly break down permitted and prohibited actions with a focus on reducing risk of harm and maintenance of respect for patient;
- Expansion of the related standards of practice and addition of companion resources to better support regulated members.
* Based on initial feedback received, the term ‘effective referral’ will be removed from the Conscientious Objection standard. Those that provided feedback during the consultation period will be consulted again during the re-consultation phase and see additional edits before final approval.
View the draft standard
For your convenience, the draft standard has clean and marked copies available.
All ResourcesYour opinion matters
Changes to CPSA’s Standards of Practice impact your day-to-day practice. Your feedback is important, as it helps us develop clear, reasonable expectations and helpful, applicable resources. We appreciate the time you took and the input you provided.
CPSA regulated members, partner organizations, other healthcare professionals and Albertans were invited to provide feedback from December 12, 2023 to January 15, 2024.
Anonymized feedback will be considered by Council at their March 2024 meeting. Once amendments are finalized and approved by Council, members will be notified by email and The Messenger newsletter.
We respect your privacy
All feedback is subject to CPSA’s Privacy Statement. CPSA reviews all comments before publication to ensure there is no offensive language, personal attacks or unsubstantiated allegations, and publishes them (where consent has been provided) as soon as possible.
Other feedback on this standard
[show-testimonials taxonomy=’028-conscientiousobjection’ relation=’AND’ orderby=’menu_order’ order=’DESC’ post_status=’publish’ layout=’grid’ options=’theme:quotes,info-position:info-left,text-alignment:left,columns:1,quote-content:short,charlimitextra:(…),image-size:ttshowcase_small,image-shape:circle,image-effect:none,image-link:on’]