December 2025 newsletter
As we approach the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude for your continued commitment to women’s health and your unwavering support of the SOGC: together we are stronger. I encourage you to become involved: participate in SOGC committees; take an ALARM course; contribute to a clinical guideline or attend the Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference (ACSC) in Ottawa in June 2026.
We are keeping a close eye on many issues across Canada that are affecting our members and the work they do. Bill 2 in Quebec, which links doctors’ compensation to performance targets and imposes hefty financial fines on physicians who may take “concerted action” to challenge the government’s policies, will have many negative impacts on physicians and their patients as well as the public at large. The Board of Directors of the SOGC passed a motion at our November meeting as follows: “The SOGC supports the FMSQ in recognition of the potential negative impact of Bill 2 and authorizes the release of a public statement reflecting this position.” We will be releasing this statement very soon.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick recently signed a new physician services contract that saw a significant increase in overall physician payment but failed to address gender equity. As a result, obstetricians and gynaecologists are now the lowest paid surgical specialty in that province.
There are also shortages of women’s health care providers in many parts of the country. As a maternal fetal medicine specialist doing locums in different cities, I know firsthand that many areas are struggling to provide the care women deserve. This is because of human resource shortages, lack of access to operating rooms and outdated equipment.
Lastly, we were deeply concerned by a recent release of videos from various clinics across Canada where a woman presented seeking a later term abortion. The released videos were done without permission and were filmed secretively; they also were edited and only parts of the encounters were released. This is concerning and disturbing in so many ways. It puts physicians at risk and spreads disinformation about reproductive health care. It also paints women as “bad” for seeking out an abortion. The SOGC will continue to speak out and defend women’s right to access to abortion care. It is legal, it is a medical procedure and is a decision made between a woman and her physician.
On a more positive note, the recent Ontario CME last month was a very successful conference –the quality of the presentations was excellent. Thank you to presenters, SOGC staff and our industry staff and also to all those who attended the event. It was wonderful to connect with people. It truly was a time to come together and benefit from one another’s expertise and experience. Mark your calendars for the ACSC taking place in Ottawa in June 2026. Registration is now open and early bird pricing is now live. SOGC members like you can save over 50% on registrations if you book before January 17,2026.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and restful holiday season. I look forward to working with you in 2026.
Please share your thoughts and suggestions at: president@sogc.org.
Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck
SOGC President