At the heart of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada’s mission is the promotion of well-being for women+ in both the medical profession and society at large. The FMWC supports and shares Bill S-228’s intent to protect reproductive autonomy and ensure a safe, inclusive healthcare environment, particularly in marginalized communities that have been historically wronged. The FMWC unequivocally condemns coerced or forced sterilization.
Upon review and consultation, the FMWC raises the following concerns about the impacts of Bill S-228 on the provision of women’s health services. Politicalization and criminalization of women’s health decreases access and results in loss of bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
* Gender Equity in Medicine: As of 2026, over 80% of OB/GYN residents and the majority of practicing specialists are now female. . The historic demographics of a male-dominated specialty have changed to a workforce consisting of mainly women physicians, who would now be targeted with this Bill.
* Emergency Care Risks: The threat of criminal prosecution may cause physicians to hesitate during critical, split-second clinical decisions, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. These decisions must be made on purely clinical grounds, without the fear of criminal prosecution. Hesitating even for a moment can lead to lives lost, as seconds count in the face of active bleeding. The potential for hesitation is of great concern. In the US, physician hesitancy and the lack of available women’s health practitioners has led to many documented maternal deaths.
* Educational and Regulatory Opportunity: The FMWC advocates for the opportunity for comprehensive member education on informed consent. We seek to collaborate with regulatory bodies to enhance professional standards and ensure those found guilty of coerced or forced sterilization are brought to justice. Physicians will need to know that robust support systems are in place for providers undergoing College review, as the stress of such accusations can be life changing for physicians.
* Unintended Consequences: Marginalized women often have little opportunity to speak to a provider alone and let their wishes be known. Fully informed consent can often be difficult due to language and cultural barriers. Their opportunity for bodily autonomy will be compromised if the provider makes decisions that will avoid threat of criminalization rather than allowing the woman to realize her reproductive wishes.
Bill S-228 has been passed in the Senate and is going to Committee after its second reading in the House of Commons, without adequate consultation with professionals who will be affected. Canada is in a health human resources crisis, particularly in the field of reproductive health. Should the threat of criminalization become a reality, it will affect the decision making of those in practice and deter those who wish to enter the specialty, all to the detriment of women’s health care.
The FMWC strives to dismantle barriers to care and ensure that every individual in Canada receives high-quality, timely reproductive health services, regardless of race, geography, or circumstance We advocate for an environment that balances patient-centred care, professional autonomy and clinical judgment that is unencumbered by the threat of criminalization.
Politicalization and criminalization of women’ health care leads to decreased access and poorer quality of care for women. Rather than protecting women’s reproductive autonomy, the Bill will erode such autonomy.
On March 26, 2026 FMWC presented to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) to discuss Bill S-228. FMWC urges those who will vote on the Bill to have a clear understanding of the unintended consequences. Further consultation with those who will be affected is essential before the Bill goes for third reading and voting.