A nurse who was disciplined and threatened with termination after she refused to call a transgender man a woman has been reinstated to her job, according to the Telegraph:
‘Jennifer Melle, 40, was reported to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after she referred to an inmate from a high-security men’s prison listed as male on their medical record, as “Mr” and “he”.
She was then hauled before a disciplinary hearing, accused of breaching patient confidentiality by speaking to the media, an allegation she denied.’
Melle told the inmate “Sorry I cannot refer to you as ‘her’ or ‘she’, as it’s against my faith and Christian values, but I can call you by your name,” prompting the complaint and her suspension.
Accused of not following her hospital’s code of conduct policies, which prohibit the expression and sharing of “inappropriate beliefs,” the case against her was ultimately dropped and she was allowed to be reinstated following her suspension.
She told the Telegraph:
I am deeply relieved and grateful to hear that Epsom and St Helier Hospital has confirmed it will take no further action against me. This has been an incredibly long and painful journey.
I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stood with me, prayed for me, and supported me through the darkest moments. Your encouragement has meant more than you will ever know.
I am thankful that this chapter is closing, but I remain determined that the lessons of my case, and the cases before mine, must be learnt. The NHS must protect its staff, uphold fairness, and ensure that no nurse is ever again placed in an impossible position for simply doing their job with integrity.
