Should B.C. doctors inform new patients of treatments they won't do because of religious belief?

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeHealthFamily & ChildLocal HealthMenSeniorsWomenNewsLocal News Should B.C. doctors inform new patients of treatments they won't do because of religious belief? The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled a B.C. doctor's refusal to treat a transgender teen with a prescribed hormone blocker as discriminatory Author of the article: By Tiffany Crawford Published Sep 14, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 6 minute read The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled a B.C. doctor's refusal to treat a transgender teen with a prescribed medication as discriminatory. PHOTO BY WUTWHANFOTO /Getty Images/iStockphoto Article content There’s no requirement in B.C. for doctors to inform new patients that they won’t provide certain treatments because of their religious beliefs. And, unlike in Ontario and Nova Scotia, they don’t have to refer patients to another doctor who is willing to treat them. Article content This raises questions about how patients who need access to medical services that are against some doctors’ beliefs, such as abortion, medical assistance in dying, infertility treatments or transgender health care for youth, can get that care in a timely manner. Article content Article content Article content Refusing care on moral or religious beliefs is called conscientious objection, and it’s in the spotlight after a recent B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruling against a family doctor who refused care to a transgender patient. Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content What is conscientious objection, and what did the tribunal case say? Article content Doctors and nurses in B.C. are allowed to refuse certain treatments based on personal or religious beliefs, but they are not required to inform new patients about treatments they won’t provide nor provide referrals. They are required, however, to be honest with patients about their options. Article content The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal this month ordered a B.C. doctor to pay $28,100 for refusing to treat a transgender teen with a prescribed hormone blocker for religious reasons. Article content Henry Ajaero, a doctor in Delta, told a 14-year-old girl and her mother he would not inject a puberty…