Press release

Bill C-484: More than 25,000 signatories for the FMSQ’s petition

Montréal, April 25, 2008. – Ten days after the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) public statement against the Private Bill C-484, the “Unborn Victims of Crime Act”, more than 25,000 people have already signed the petition available on the FMSQ’s Internet site.

Bill C-484 was tabled on November 21, 2007 and passed the House of Commons second reading on March 5, 2008, virtually unnoticed. On the pretext of wanting to toughen sentences handed down in cases of physical attacks on pregnant women, this Bill could implicitly confer legal status on a fetus, which has none under the current legislation. The Bill C-484, by introducing a new legal concept, could, once again, create a conflict between the rights of the fetus and those of the pregnant woman.

Everyone who shares the FMSQ’s point of view can make their M.P. aware of that fact through the special Internet site available at: http://www.fmsq.org/c-484. « It is really important to tell the members of the House of Commons that by no way – not by the front door neither by the back door – we want to reopen the debate about the criminalization of abortion with the consequences that we know for the concerned women and the medical practice. » said Dr. Gaétan Barrette, President of the FMSQ.

The Federation considers that if it is desired to toughen the sentences of persons committing such crimes, this can be done by making the appropriate changes to the existing legislation. It is also perfectly possible for legislators to strengthen the impact of sentences through stricter enforcement.

The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec numbers more than 8,000 members in Québec, representing 35 medical specialities. The sole organization recognized by government with respect to negotiating medical specialists' collective agreements, the FMSQ is also consulted on all aspects of the organization of medical care in Québec.

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