Dr. Chantal Barry, a physician at Westglen Medical Centre in Calgary, is refusing to prescribe the birth control pill to patients. On June 24, while attending an appointment with her gynecologist, Joan Chand’oiseau saw a sign at the front desk of the walk-in clinic stating that “the physician on duty today will not prescribe the birth control pill.” The sign is put up when Dr. Barry is the only physician at the clinic. Patients who want contraception are given a list of offices in Calgary that prescribe it.

Chand’oiseau posted a photo of the sign on Facebook. “It contains overt judgement of my choices and my reproductive health,” she told CTV Calgary. “I think that affects everyone in that clinic, regardless of whether or not they’re visiting that doctor.”

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta’s policy on moral or religious beliefs states that conscientious objectors must ensure that the patient “is offered timely access to another physician or resource that will provide accurate information about all available medical options.”

Jim Prentice, the frontrunner in the leadership race of the Alberta PC Party, told CTV Calgary that Dr. Barry’s refusal to prescribe contraception is inappropriate and that “there needs to be an investigation into why that’s happening and we need to deal with it.

Jim Prentice, the frontrunner in the leadership race of the Alberta PC Party, told CTV Calgary that Dr. Barry’s refusal to prescribe contraception is inappropriate and that “there needs to be an investigation into why that’s happening and we need to deal with it.

Jim Prentice, the frontrunner in the leadership race of the Alberta PC Party, told CTV Calgary that Dr. Barry’s refusal to prescribe contraception is inappropriate and that “there needs to be an investigation into why that’s happening and we need to deal with it.” Former premier Alison Redford attacked the Wildrose Party in the 2012 provincial election for supporting conscience rights, a position it later dropped from its party principles and platform.

“Instead of hiding behind conscience [rights], Dr. Barry should boldly assert she is practicing good medicine and will continue to avoid prescribing contraceptives until there is very good evidence that they are good for her patients,” said Dr. Philip Ney, a retired psychiatrist, to LifeSiteNews.

This case comes just months after a massive media backlash against three family doctors at an Ottawa walk-in clinic who also refused to not  prescribe birth control. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s policy on physicians’ moral or religious beliefs is also under review. Currently, the policy only requires physicians to “communicate clearly and promptly” procedures that will not be provided, give the patient information about all options, treat all patients with respect, and tell them that they may see another doctor. The consultation is open to physicians and the public until August 5.

As of July 10, an online poll by the CPSO showed that 69 per cent of respondents were opposed to physicians refusing to provide a service because of conflicting moral beliefs. The Radical Handmaids, a pro-abortion feminist group, is directing its members over Facebook to participate in the CPSO’s online consultation.

The new incident in Calgary, along with the current review of the CPSO policy, prompted critical coverage in both the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail. “A policy that allows for a young woman with a standard, legitimate medical request to be turned away from a clinic untreated, embarrassed and unsure what the next doctor’s office holds clearly does not serve the public,” stated the Star editorial, referring to Kate Desjardins, who was denied a birth control prescription at the Ottawa clinic. Columnist Konrad Yakabuski said in the Globe, “religious accommodation of doctors, especially in a health-care system where the state pays their salaries, is only reasonable to the extent that it is (1) rare and (2) does not create an unnecessary burden for patients.”

John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, wrote in the Calgary Herald that part of living in a free society is that consumers and providers can “accept or decline each other’s business, without state coercion.” He also said that “the inconvenience of not immediately getting what you want is part of life.” Carpay said the solution to not getting a prescription for contraception from one doctor is to go to another doctor.

Sharon-Rose Fraser, executive director of Campaign Life Coalition Alberta, told The Interim that CLC believes that doctors have conscience rights to refuse prescribing contraception since contraception is not legitimate medicine. “Patients that are refused birth control shouldn’t be up in arms,” she said, “birth control is not a life-saving medicine and doctors should have wide latitude to determine what is the best course of care and treatment for their patients.”

Fraser said whether doctors refuse prescribing contraception because it violates their faith and morals or they consider it bad for their patients’ health, neither the state nor the medical establishment should require them to heed every request made by their patients. “What other pharmaceutical can patients just request that doctors are required to oblige?” Fraser wondered.