BMA stance on Cass review of transgender care ‘damaged its reputation’

The British Medical Association has threatened the reputation of all UK doctors by rejecting the findings of a landmark Cass review into transgender healthcare, a leading member of the BMA has said The observer.

Dr Jacky Davis said the doctors’ union’s position on the Cass test was “absurd”, had caused a “rift” between its leadership and the mainstream doctors it represents and had left the medical profession “in chaos”.

The BMA refused to support the findings of Dr Hilary Cass, whose review was published in April and received wide acclaim. It said the review contained “unsubstantiated claims” and its council asked members to “publicly criticize” it. Last month, the BMA also called for the ban on prescribing virginity blockers for under-18s to be lifted.

The BMA is the only medical body in Britain that does not accept and find fault with the Cass findings, which were accepted by the last government and its Labor successor. It said it wanted to conduct its own investigation.

Doctors on the BMA’s governing body who dared to challenge its criticism of the Cass review have been subjected to “harassment” and its decision-making body has been gripped by a “state of fear and dread”, in said Davis.

Writing to The observerDavis, who has been a member of the association’s council for 18 years, says: “The BMA now finds itself isolated in its opposition to Cass, and its reputation and credibility have been damaged.”

Other members of the council, who spoke anonymously, have received similar concerns about the state of the organization, and the dangers it may have because of its conflicts in trans issues.

The “toxic atmosphere” surrounding the BMA council’s deliberations has left some of its 69 members afraid to speak up to share their views on the issue, Davis says. Its refusal to agree with Cass’ findings means that the reputation of the entire medical profession is now “threatened”, he adds.

The BMA’s position, decided at a council meeting on 17 July, has led to around 1,500 doctors, including former heads of royal medical colleges, signing a letter of protest and some former members resigning. .

The union accepted its position in Cass because a campaign group called DoctorsVote, which has led junior doctors’ pay strikes, has used political “infiltration” to gain significant influence over the BMA and dictate its policy. Davis says.

Davis, an NHS radiologist, is challenging the union’s leadership to “embrace democracy” and put its position in a discussion with its estimated 185,000 members. “If it fails to do this, one would have to conclude that it is afraid of the views of its wider membership,” he writes.

He also said in his article that those who run the organization’s “anti-Cass” policy “are firm in their beliefs. [but] they have no solid proof of their opposition”, and that the movement is in danger of experiencing what one critic describes as “descent into madness”.

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after the news release

Responding to Davis, the BMA said it respected differences of opinion during its internal, “fair and open” discussions. It denied that DoctorsVote was behind the controversial operation.

A spokesman said: “We do not condone any form of bullying, or inappropriate behaviour, and where this is brought to our attention the appropriate procedure is followed if further investigation is required.

“We are not aware of any complaints of bullying from Dr Davis or supporters of his position through BMA channels or processes.

“This is in contrast to the appalling hateful homophobic abuse directed at BMA members and staff on social media in response to our work on the Cass review.”

This organization, which has spoken for the medical profession since 1832, did not respond to Davis’ claim that it had damaged its reputation because of its position in Cass.

Doctors Vote did not respond to a request for comment.