A British Christian doctor, Dr. David Mackereth, is taking his fight against compelled speech to a European court. Mackereth lost his emergency room physician position in 2019 after refusing to use a hypothetical patient's preferred pronouns during a training exercise. He maintains that using pronouns that contradict biological sex is a matter of dishonesty with significant implications for healthcare.
Mackereth's employer cited the U.K. Equality Act of 2010, classifying the refusal to use preferred pronouns as harassment. While affirming he would treat all patients equally regardless of gender identity, Mackereth believes that compromising truth in medical practice poses a serious risk to quality care. He subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, which was initially dismissed by the Employment Tribunal, with the Tribunal ruling his beliefs "incompatible with human dignity."
Although the Employment Appeal Tribunal partially overturned the verdict in 2022, the justification for his dismissal was upheld, a decision further supported by the Court of Appeal. Mackereth expressed concern that the legal system's stance effectively renders Christianity irrelevant in the modern context. He emphasizes the importance of resisting the pervasive influence of transgender ideology, particularly within the medical field.
In a recent development, the General Medical Council (GMC), an independent regulatory body for UK medical professionals, reviewed Mackereth's case and found no evidence that his fitness to practice was impaired or that his beliefs posed a threat to patient safety.
The Christian Legal Centre, which supports Mackereth, believes his case could set a precedent regarding compelled speech in employment. Mackereth argues that the case has broad implications for freedom of speech, particularly the ability of courts to mandate the use of transgender pronouns. He urges fellow medical professionals and Christians to uphold their beliefs, emphasizing the duty to "gently affirm the truth" about gender identity.
