British Health Professionals Council Panel Rules Christian Podiatrist Guilty Of Misconduct For Discriminating Against Patients He Perceived Homosexual

An update on a previous post, the BBC reporting that the Health Professionals Council has ruled that a Christian health worker is guilty of misconduct for discriminating against patients he perceived to be homosexual. The HPC found that the fitness of Steve Hardie, a podiatrist, to practice was impaired. Elspeth Metcalfe, chairman of the HPC panel hearing the case against Hardie said “The registrant’s attitude towards patients and colleagues of a homosexual orientation has been, and continues to be, unacceptable and highly offensive both to the persons concerned and to the wider public.” The panel concluded that Hardie asked a colleague to take over the care of an HIV-positive patient, believing the man to be homosexual, and that Hardie was “rude and obnoxious” to two male patients he believed were in a relationship because they shared accommodations. On another occasion, the panel found he failed to properly treat a patient with diabetes because he found the man to be “effeminate.” Hardie had emphasised that he did not approve of homosexuality, and “quoted his Christian faith as a reason for his views.” However, in his defence, he told the panel Monday “It’s a statement of fact that all Christians do know that certain things are forbidden and that can’t be taken away from any Christian by definition. Whatever my feelings, I’ve never refused to treat a patient, I would never refuse to treat a patient and my treatment has not been affected by my views, which are not my views but all Christians’ views.”