Home Advice & Publications Key issues Abortion services for non-residents

Abortion services for non-residents

Contact us

Contact the CMPA and schedule time to speak to a physician advisor

Call us at 1-800-267-6522 (in Ottawa area:
613-725-2000)

Updated: June, 2024

The CMPA is here to support and protect members when they experience medico-legal issues arising in Canada related to abortion services provided in Canada to patients from other countries.

As per our mission, the CMPA is structured to assist members with legal issues in Canada, not other countries (such as the U.S.)

As a mutual defense organization, our mandate is to provide medico-legal defense in Canada, including defending civil actions and criminal charges when appropriate, for patient care issues that arise from the practise of medicine in Canada. Assisting with medico-legal matters outside the country, or in the U.S. for example, is outside our mandate and would be unsustainably complex given that each state has its own civil and criminal law systems as well as distinct legislation and regulations.

Providing urgent or emergent care?

Physicians have a duty to provide urgent and emergent care to all patients, including non-residents and medical tourists. It does not matter why the patient is in Canada.

CMPA will generally assist you in the event a medico-legal case is brought in Canada or outside of Canada in response to urgent or emergent care.

Member treats non-resident*

  1. Legal action brought in Canada
    1. Urgent or emergent care
    2. Non-urgent care (elective care, medical/birth tourism)
    3. Abortion services
    1. check mark icon
      Eligible for
      assistance
  2. Legal action brought outside of Canada
    1. Urgent or emergent care
    2. Non-urgent care (elective care, medical/birth tourism)
    3. Abortion services
    1. check mark icon
      Eligible for
      assistance
    2. phone contact icon
      Contact
      CMPA
  1. check mark icon
    Eligible for
    assistance
  2. phone contact icon
    Contact
    CMPA
Member treats non-resident* Flowchart: 1) Legal action brought in Canada > Urgent or emergent care > Eligible for assistance. 2) Legal action brought in Canada > Non-urgent care (elective care, medical/birth tourism) > Eligible for assistance. 3) Legal action brought in Canada > Abortion services > Eligible for assistance. 4) Legal action brought outside of Canada > Urgent or emergent care > Eligible for assistance. 5) Legal action brought outside of Canada > Non-urgent care (elective care, medical/birth tourism) > Contact CMPA. 6) Legal action brought outside of Canada > Abortion services > and Contact CMPA.

*Always make a reasonable attempt to have non-resident, patient sign the Governing Law and Jurisdiction Agreement.


Webcast

Providing abortions to American patients: Medico-legal risks and CMPA support

CMPA panel discussion (recorded Sept. 6, 2022)

Resources

Advocacy

We know our members are increasingly concerned about the medico-legal risks of providing abortion services to patients from the U.S.

This issue is larger than the CMPA can address on its own. We are advocating for the federal government to work with provincial and territorial governments to ensure liability protection for Canadian physicians experiencing medico-legal issues in the U.S.

We will continue to do everything we can within our mission and mandate to support physicians who wish to provide abortion services to U.S. patients – including sharing strategies to mitigate risk and protecting members within Canada.

We sent letters to the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well of the ministries of health of each province and territory.

CMPA in the news

English publications

French publications


Need more medico-legal advice and information on key issues?

Browse other key topics under Key Issues: