CPSO's "effective referral" policy misunderstood by spokesperson?

CPSO is seeking public input on a draft policy that would force doctors to refer for services which they are legally entitled to.

From the National Post:

"If ap­proved, the new pol­icy would re­quire doc­tors to make those re­fer­rals. 

In an emer­gency, doc­tors would even have to pro­vide ser­vi­ces them­selves, re­gardless of re­li­gious be­lief. 

Sim­i­lar poli­cies are al­read­y in place in Al­berta, Mani­toba, Que­bec and New Bruns­wick, 

Dr. Ga­bel says: “This is noth­ing new.”"

But Dr. Marc Gabel is wrong to say Alberta, Manitoba and NB have "similar" policies to CPSO's "effective referral" policy.

CPSO's "effective referral" is:

"Where physicians are unwilling to provide certain elements of care due to their moral or religious beliefs, an effective referral to another health care provider must be provided to the patient. An effective referral means a referral made in good faith, to a non-objecting, available, and accessible physician or other health care provider."

Those provinces require a referral to a doctor who will provide information about a procedure, not the procedure itself. See: Appendix 3 of CPSO's annual meeting of Council.

New Brunswick:
Referrals: When moral or religious beliefs prevent a physician from providing or offering access to information about a legally available medical or surgical treatment or service, that physician must ensure that the patient who seeks such advice or medical care is offered timely access to another physician or resource that will provide accurate information about all available medical options.

Manitoba:
Referrals: If the moral or religious beliefs of a member prevent him or her from providing or offering access to information about a legally available medical treatment or procedure, the member must ensure that the patient who seeks that advice or medical care is offered timely access to another member or resource that will provide accurate information about all available medical options.

Alberta:
Referrals: When moral or religious beliefs prevent a physician from providing or offering access to information about a legally available medical or surgical treatment or service, that physician must ensure that the patient who seeks such advice or medical care is offered timely access to another physician or resource that will provide accurate information about all available medical options.

See my previous posts on CPSO and conscientious objection here and here.