Healthcare-workers and transgender clients: Mackereth in the EAT

Background

Dr David Mackereth had been recruited by Advanced Personnel Management Group as a Health and Disabilities Assessor on behalf of the DWP. He was contracted to assess individuals for disability-related benefits, some of whom were contemplating, undergoing or had undergone gender reassignment. However, he believed in the truth of Genesis 1:27 – that “male and female He created them” – and, therefore, that a person could not change his or her sex/gender at will and that it would be irresponsible and dishonest for, eg, a health professional to accommodate and/or encourage a patient’s “impersonation” of the opposite sex.

Because of those beliefs, he refused as a matter of conscience to refer to clients using the pronoun of their choice – which was what the DWP required him to do. It later became apparent the issue also extended to styles and titles of address. He was suspended and, ultimately, sacked. An Employment Tribunal rejected his claim for direct discrimination and harassment: we noted the judgment here.

He appealed, and in Mackereth v Department for Work and Pensions & Anor [2022] EAT 99 he was equally unsuccessful. Continue reading