The British Medical Association has threatened the reputation of all British doctors by rejecting the findings of the ground-breaking Cass inquiry into transgender healthcare, a leading BMA member has told the UK government. Observer.
Dr Jacky Davis claims the doctors’ union’s position on the Cass investigation is “irrational”, that it has caused a “rift” between the leadership and the doctors it represents and that it has thrown the medical profession “into turmoil”.
The BMA refused to endorse the findings of Dr Hilary Cass, whose review was published in April and was widely welcomed. The BMA claimed the review contained “unfounded recommendations” and its council called on members to “publicly criticise” it. Last month, the BMA also called for the lifting of the ban on prescribing puberty blockers to young people under the age of 18.
The BMA is the only medical organisation in Britain that has not accepted and criticised Cass’s findings, which were accepted by the previous government and its Labour successor. The organisation has said it wants to carry out its own review.
Doctors on the BMA board who dared to question criticisms of the Cass inquiry have been subjected to “abuse” and the decision-making body is now in “a climate of fear and intimidation”, Davis claims.
Writing in the ObserverDavis, who has been a member of the association’s council for 18 years, said: “The BMA now finds itself isolated in its opposition to Cass, and its reputation and integrity have been damaged.”
Other council members, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed similar concerns about the organization’s position and the potential damage it could suffer from internal strife over trans issues.
The “toxic atmosphere” surrounding BMA council debates has left some of its 69 members afraid to speak out on the issue, Davis says. The refusal to endorse Cass’ findings means the reputation of the entire medical profession is now “under threat”, she adds.
The BMA’s position, adopted at a council meeting on 17 July, has led to around 1,500 doctors, including former heads of medical royal colleges, signing a letter of protest and several long-standing members resigning.
The union took its stand on Cass because an action group called DoctorsVote, which has led junior doctors’ pay strikes, has used political “entryism” to gain significant influence over the BMA and dictate its policies, Davis claims.
Davis, a consultant radiologist with the NHS, is challenging the union’s leadership to “embrace democracy” and make its views known during a consultation of its estimated 185,000 members. “If it does not, one would be forced to conclude that it is afraid of the views of its wider membership,” she writes.
She also argues in her piece that those pushing the union’s “anti-Cass” policies are “sincere in their beliefs (but) have no hard evidence to support their opposition,” and that the union is in danger of what one critic describes as a “descendancy into madness.”
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In response to Davis, the BMA said it respected differences of opinion during internal debates, which were “fair and open”. It denied that DoctorsVote was behind the controversial motion.
A spokesperson said: “We do not tolerate any form of bullying or inappropriate behaviour. If this is brought to our attention, the appropriate procedure is followed and further investigation is required.
“We are not aware of any complaints of bullying from Dr Davis or supporters of her position through BMA channels or processes.
“This stands in contrast to the utterly appalling transphobic and homophobic abuse directed at BMA members and staff on social media in response to our work on the Cass inquiry.”
The union, which has represented the medical profession since 1832, did not respond to Davis’s claim that the attitude toward Cass had damaged the profession’s reputation.
DoctorsVote did not respond to a request for comment.