There’s a growing concern over doctors who transition and are given new registration details, which might effectively erase their previous disciplinary history from public records.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has reportedly been assigning new registration numbers to transgender doctors, making it harder for future patients to find out about any issues or concerns tied to the doctor’s former identity.

What’s Happening with the Records?

Patients usually use the GMC’s public register to check a doctor’s background by searching their name and registration number.

However, it turns out that transgender doctors are being issued new GMC numbers after transitioning.

This means that any potential disciplinary actions or history tied to their previous identity are no longer visible on the register for public viewing.

This issue came to light when concerns were raised about Dr. Beth Upton, a transgender doctor who is currently involved in an employment tribunal.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Dr. Upton had been assigned a new registration number, which was part of a larger trend where 62 transgender doctors have also been given new numbers.

These numbers are important because they are like a doctor’s professional fingerprint, appearing on everything from their training records to patient prescriptions and any complaints.

The Lack of Transparency for Patients

One of the main issues is that Dr. Upton’s previous male identity is still on the register, but there is no clear connection between this old record and her current one.

The old entry notes that Dr. Upton’s registration as a male doctor was “relinquished” in April 2023, but there’s no visible reference to this on her current record. Importantly, there’s no suggestion that Dr. Upton had faced any disciplinary action, but this practice raises concerns about patient awareness.

A patient who requests a female doctor, for instance, may not realize if their physician was assigned male at birth.

The GMC explained that doctors don’t need to provide any proof of their gender transition, and therefore, there’s no way for patients to know whether the doctor they’re seeing was born male.

This lack of transparency could be especially concerning for patients who might have specific preferences, such as wanting a female doctor for personal, cultural, or religious reasons.

Concerns Over the Impact on Patient Safety

Helen Joyce, a spokesperson for the gender-critical group Sex Matters, voiced serious concerns over this practice, calling it an issue with huge implications.

She argued that women, in particular, might want to be seen by a biological female doctor, and that the GMC’s practice of issuing new registration numbers could obscure important information about the doctor’s history.

The GMC, however, defended the practice, saying that the records of doctors before and after transitioning are linked internally within their system.

They also insisted that the lack of public links between old and new records is in place to protect the privacy of individuals who transition, as part of legal safeguards designed to protect their personal information.

What Does the Government Say?

The situation has caught the attention of political figures as well.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke out, stating that the GMC should have found a way to ensure that transparency for patients is maintained, while still respecting the protections in the Equality Act.

He called the situation “extremely concerning” and suggested that it was a problem that should never have been allowed to happen.

Ongoing Legal Issues

The issue has also played a role in ongoing legal disputes.

Nurse Sandie Peggie, who was suspended in January 2024 for raising objections about Dr. Upton using a female changing room, has brought an employment tribunal.

There are allegations against Peggie, including claims that she misgendered Dr. Upton.

The case has sparked further debate about the boundaries of gender identity and patient rights.

The GMC has been contacted for comment, and the situation continues to develop.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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