BMA resident doctors condemn Supreme Court’s ‘scientifically illiterate’ trans ruling

Update 29 April 2025: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the British Medical Association had condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling. The article has now been updated to correctly reflect that the British Medical Association’s resident doctors conference condemned the ruling.

The British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors conference has condemned the Supreme Court’s “scientifically illiterate” Supreme Court trans ruling. 

The UK Supreme Court issued an 88-page judgement on 16 April, in which it ruled that the legal definition of a woman in the 2010 Equality Act refers to “biological” women, therefore excluding transgender women.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the ruling, which is likely to have wide-ranging implications for trans and non-binary people. 

In response, a BMA conference of resident doctors has condemned the ruling, calling it “scientifically illiterate”.

Ruling ‘will cause real-world harm’

In an emergency motion brought to the conference, doctors affirmed “the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals to live their lives with dignity, having their identity respected”.

Attendees urged the Supreme Court to acknowledge the existence of intersex people and condemned the “scientifically illiterate rulings from the Supreme Court, made without consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders, that will cause real-world harm to the trans, non-binary, and intersex communities in this country.”

A BMA spokesperson confirmed that the BMA’s official policy would be set out in June, saying: “Attendees at the BMA’s resident doctors conference voted to show their opposition to the Supreme Court ruling on Saturday. However, BMA-wide policy is set at the Annual Representative Meeting (ARM), with the next meeting coming in June.

“The BMA respects trans patients’ dignity, autonomy, and human rights and continues to believe that trans doctors, NHS workers and patients deserve dignity, safety, and equitable access to healthcare and healthcare facilities.”

Protests have erupted across the UK in opposition to the Supreme Court ruling, with Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake expressing “deep concerns” over the possible implications. 

Helen Belcher, the chairperson of LGBTQ+ not-for-profit group TransActual, was “devastated” by the outcome of the court case.

Belcher said: “The Supreme Court chose not to hear from any trans people, preferring instead to listen to exclusionary groups. 

“Instead of bringing clarity, the Supreme Court has made a ruling which appears to contain a number of contradictions.”

Immediately after the verdict, British Transport Police announced that trans women held in custody by the force will be strip searched by male officers instead of female officers. 

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