NHS Doctors from England’s National Health Service take part in the Pride in London parade on 06 … [+]
England’s medical regulator has apologised to dozens of doctors who were investigated or lost their right to practice while homosexuality was illegal in the country.
At least 40 doctors were subject to fitness to practice investigations between the 1890s and the mid-1960s, while 8 were erased from the country’s medical register altogether, according to research performed by the General Medical Council.
GMC chair Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen wrote in a formal apology: “Homophobic laws and attitudes, that were in place into the 1980s and beyond, caused personal and professional harm.”
The regulator “compounded that harm” when it took its own action against those convicted under the country’s anti-gay laws.
“In some cases that meant the end of a practitioner’s career. For this we are truly sorry,” she wrote.
Most of the individuals known to have been affected have already passed away. But she encouraged anyone who believes they or someone they know were unfairly investigated to come forward for a personal apology.
“We cannot be sure of the true number of doctors we took historic action against based on convictions that would now be considered unjust. But the impact on every one of them, and on those close to them, will have been considerable,” she added in a statement.
“Laws and attitudes have changed in the years since, as has the GMC. These are historic cases, but it is right that we apologise for them.”
Campaigners have welcomed the apology, but warn LGBTQ doctors still face stigma and discrimination at work.
Dr Duncan McGregor from the Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) said his organisation hoped the apology would “bring brings some measure of solace to those affected doctors and their loved ones.”
It is “is an important step in righting the wrongs of the past and, while the hurt and damage that has been caused to those doctors cannot be undone, it is important to acknowledge past injustices,” he added.
“Although the threat of erasure from the medical register due to a doctor’s sexuality no longer looms, prejudice against LGBTQ+ healthcare staff persists to this day.”
Homosexuality was illegal in England and Wales until 1967, and in Scotland until 1980.
But despite the repealing of these laws, stigma around sexual orientation still exists. Many doctors in the U.K. still don’t feel comfortable being open about their sexuality at work.
Less than half (46%) of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer medics feel comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation, according to a 2022 study by the Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) and trade body the British Medical Association.
More than 43% of LGBQ medics said they’d experienced homophobia or biphobia at least once over the last two years.
And just 34% of trans doctors said they were open about their gender identity at work, with 49% reporting having experienced phobic behavior.
Deputy chair of the council of doctor’s union, the British Medical Society, Emma Runswick called the apology “an important acknowledgement” of the “injustice” and “harm done to doctors who had their careers destroyed.”
She said in a statement that the BMA hope it “brings some peace and vindication.”
But she also emphasised discrimination still persists “despite our progress,” adding, “Our profession and regulator must commit to combatting current, as well as historic, prejudice.”
