Petition

Petition to the Executive Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan 

To: Dr. Alan John Beggs, Dr. Jurgen Gabriel Maslany, Dr. Oladapo Adesanya Mabadeje, Dr. Sarah Rose Mueller, Lionel Chabot, Burton O’Soup

Re: Dr. Terence Davids, File # 01.2024.D

We, the undersigned, call on you to withdraw the charge of “unprofessional conduct” brought against Dr. Terence Davids, laid on February 13, 2024.

Your charge is irrational and discriminatory, amounting to the persecution of a doctor for following his Christian religion and medical ethics.

When Patient number 1 came to Dr. Davids to have her pregnancy assessed for an abortion, Dr. Davids expressed legitimate concern for both her and her preborn child. Both her and her preborn child are deserving of care, compassion, and the best available medical advice and treatment.

In Dr. Davids’ professional opinion, an abortion was not medically necessary, so he advised her to reconsider. It was legitimate for him to offer this medical advice. Pregnancy is not a disease, and abortion is not a treatment or cure but rather an elective option usually committed for reasons of lifestyle convenience.

According to a 2020 UC San Francisco study that favours abortion (Rocca, Samari, et al.), 17% of women have negative feelings immediately after an abortion procedure, and 12% have mixed feelings. A comprehensive literature review by David C. Reardon (SAGE Open Medicine, 2018) shows significant mental health impacts after abortion. In light of these facts, advising against abortion is not unreasonable.

Additionally, in keeping with the tenets of his Christian religion, Dr. Davids was bound to share the spiritual concerns he had regarding Patient number 1’s intended abortion of her preborn child. He did not force her to accept his religion or spend time explaining its doctrines, but merely inquired if she shared his beliefs or not. He also expressed a hope for her preborn child that was well-intentioned, kind, and consistent with the Hippocratic Oath to “do no harm” to any patient, be it the mother or the child in her womb.

According to the Holy Bible, the book that binds Dr. Davids’ beliefs, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13). See also Psalm 139:13 and Exodus 21:22-25. As well, the Hippocratic Oath, the basis for medical ethics, states, “I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion.”

If Patient number 1 felt uncomfortable and anxious after her visit, this was not caused by Dr. Davids. Her own decision to electively abort her preborn child, and the implications of that decision, were the only source of her anxiety and discomfort. It is not Dr. Davids’ job to absolve her conscience.

Dr. Davids carried out his professional duties in all his dealings with Patient number 1 with integrity, honesty, and compassion, and was in line with the Hippocratic Oath. His words and actions were legitimately informed by his medical ethics and religion. He deserves to be commended, not persecuted, for this.

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