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Albertans hoping to die with the assistance of a doctor may be refused the service at some the province’s hospitals and health facilities if the province’s Catholic bishops get their way.

In a strongly worded statement released Thursday, the bishops demand some health facilities be free to prohibit a “morally wrong” practice they believe is disproportionately dangerous to frail seniors and people with disabilities or mental illnesses.

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Albertans have “a natural right to be served by doctors and institutions that practise only medicine and are not involved in state-sponsored killing,” said the statement signed by six bishops, including Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith and Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary.

“They must not be deprived of access to such just because there are other citizens who desire assistance in committing suicide.”

The statement is likely to have a direct impact on Covenant Health, the Catholic organization that operates continuing-care facilities and nine hospitals across Alberta, including Edmonton’s Misericordia and Grey Nuns. Smith is a member of Covenant’s board of directors.