It's unacceptable that patients could be refused a sterilization procedure at a Catholic hospital in Humboldt, Sask., when it's the only facility in the area, an expert on medical ethics says.

"The hospital can't stand on its conscience at the cost of the reasonable expectations and the rights of patients," said Arthur Schafer, a professor at the University of Manitoba.

Humboldt's St. Elizabeth's Hospital is owned by the Saskatchewan Catholic Health Corporation.
(CBC)

Schafer was talking about the situation at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, which is no longer doing tubal ligations, a common sterilization procedure.

The hospital says the move is to bring its operations more in line with Catholic teachings, which forbid artificial birth control.

However, according to Schafer, the Catholic hospital must take into consideration the fact it's the only hospital serving a large rural area and is funded with public money.

"There's a big difference if you're the only pharmacy in a town, or if you're the only hospital in a town, or you're the only doctor in a town, or if you're a nurse in an obstetrical ward and you're needed to provide medically necessary services," Schafer said.

In those situations, withholding of services interferes with the rights of patients who hold different religious or moral views, Schafer said.

Either, the hospital should provide the service or the health system should provide reasonable alternatives, he said.

"Pay for people to go to Saskatoon, ensure that nobody has to wait a year to get a treatment which they should be able to get in a day or a week," he said.

The hospital board that approved the ban on tubal ligations is scheduled to meet Friday afternoon. The board chair has confirmed the issue is on the agenda.

Humboldt is about 115 kilometres east of Saskatoon.