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Latest NewsGender reassignment discriminationCase lawReligious discriminationReligion

Christian doctor ‘chose’ to leave his job over trans pronoun row

by Rob Moss 12 Jul 2019
by Rob Moss 12 Jul 2019 Dr David Mackereth claims he was dismissed because of his religion.
Photo: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Dr David Mackereth claims he was dismissed because of his religion.
Photo: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Dr David Mackereth, the Christian doctor who claims he was dismissed for refusing to use transgender pronouns, chose to leave his job, an employment tribunal has heard.

The Department for Work and Pensions and an employment agency, Advanced Personnel Management (APM), are defending a claim against the doctor, who says he was discriminated against because his religious belief means he cannot use a preferred pronoun for a transgender client.

Mackereth, who has worked as a doctor for 30 years, earlier told the tribunal that he was dismissed because he would not refer to “any six-foot tall bearded man” as “madam”.

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However his manager, James Owen, said Dr Mackereth chose to leave his job assessing the health and disability of benefits claimants.

The doctor claims that no effort was made to accommodate his religious beliefs, such as referring transgender clients to another doctor.

The BBC reported yesterday that Owen said he had a meeting with Dr Mackereth and “respected his wishes not to work” in June 2018.

In a written statement Owen said he “asked the claimant if he would respect the customer’s wish to be referred to by their chosen sexuality and name and would he convey that in his written report.

“The claimant categorically stated that he would not do that due to his beliefs and he could not put that in a report as his conscience would not allow that.”

Owen said “at no point was David suspended from work,” adding that the doctor had “left work because he chose to do so”.

The case continues at the Midlands (West) employment tribunal.

Rob Moss
Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. He specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts, most recently on the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and electrical markets in Asia and the Middle East.

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