Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to address my first question to Dr. Stern.
Dr. Stern, page 7 of your brief discusses rights of conscience. This issue has been discussed and raised by many witnesses. Yesterday we had the representatives of the churches, and they were wrestling with the issue of a physician or a care provider who would refuse on moral or religious grounds to be part of a physician-assisted death.
I'll read your recommendation to us, which is in the last paragraph on page 7:
With a view to ensuring patient access to care, an appropriate approach to consider is the one adopted under Quebec's An Act Respecting End of Life Care. In Quebec, a physician who refuses a request for medical aid in dying for reasons of conscience, must notify the designated authority
—I underline “the designated authority”—
who will then take the necessary steps to find another physician willing to consider the request.
Could you explain to us who the designated authority is and how it works in practice? The act has been implemented in Quebec, so I understand you might have the information we're seeking in relation to protecting the rights of conscience.