Council has rescinded its policy on Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation (FGC/M) and replaced it with a statement expressly denouncing the practice.

The statement reminds physicians that performing, assisting in, or referring patients for FGC/M procedures is a criminal offence and constitutes professional misconduct. It also outlines physicians’ reporting obligations with respect to FGC/M, and directs physicians to helpful resources, including the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada (SOGC) Guideline. Prohibitions on the practice already exist in legislation, and as a result, Council believed that having a policy provided no additional regulatory function and that the primary intent of the policy — a denunciation — could be effectively achieved through a statement.