New religion regulations protect anti-abortion stance

During training, the undergraduate who cannot be named for legal reasons, was told to expect abortion referrals and prescribing contraception as part of the job.

He accepted he couldn’t impose his Catholic faith on his patients, but reserved the right to suggest alternatives to abortion and was happy for them to seek a second opinion if necessary.

Superiors of the trainee doctor would not accept his stance and reported him to the General Medical Council when he refused to comply on moral grounds.  He was told his views would disqualify him from training as a general practitioner and that he could potentially be struck off the medical register.

Contemplating his resignation and considering giving up his medical career altogether, he was referred to the Thomas More Legal Centre.  The Catholic legal charity which defends religious freedom and opposes discrimination against Christians, were happy to take up his case.

National Director and Barrister, Neil Addison told Lapido Media,

"His actions were legal and he was protected by the Human Rights Act and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003”.

Addison, who is also the author of "Religious Discrimination and Hatred Law", drafted letters to his client’s employer, pointing out his legal rights and warned them,

"Any attempt to pressurise him to compromise his ethical principles would be unlawful harassment and any attempt to fail him in his training would constitute unlawful victimisation”.

The trainee Doctor was eventually referred to the GMC who agreed with the advice from the Thomas More Legal Centre that his actions were in accordance with medical professional rules.  Although the Catholic legal charity continues to monitor the situation, Addison is satisfied with the outcome,

"We’re glad that we were able to resolve the matter without having to sue the clinic, but we would have been prepared to do so if it had been necessary".

The trainee doctor is grateful for the help he received from the Thomas More Legal Centre,

"If it had not been for their support they would have sacked me or made me resign. I felt I was on my own and could do nothing".

According to Addison, this is not the only case of its kind.  He points out there are many Christian medical professionals out there, whose careers could be at risk,

“Trainee doctors are particularly vulnerable to pressure from their superiors.  It takes a great deal of moral courage to stand up to pressure to conform and go along with abortion, especially if they’re told that failure to conform means they’re not allowed to pass their professional qualifications.  We will support any other doctors or nurses who find themselves under similar pressure”.