Christian podiatrist ‘didn’t want to treat patients he thought were gay’

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Pink News are reporting:
Christian podiatrist ‘didn’t want to treat patients he thought were gay’

Full story

 

Link to hearing at HPC

 

I find that deeply embarrassing, both as a Podiatrist AND as a Christian. Some people just don't get it.

 

For all "involved"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4p8qxGbpOk

And better still...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv49_YZUt3k

At his best: (be careful, only click it if you want to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjA2-VvYlnA&NR=1&feature=fvwp

 

Not surprising given some of the posters on this forum.
Yep one sick "virus in shoes" that lad
and thanks for the youtubes, the wife and I had a good chuckle

 

"Faith in action", Mark. "Faith in Action"...


"I had a vision of a way we could have no enemies ever again, if you're interested in this. Anybody interested in hearing this?
It's kind of an interesting theory, and all we have to do is make one decisive act and we can rid the world of all our enemies at once.
Here's what we do. You know all that money we spend on nuclear weapons and defense every year? [and football players- Spooner] Trillions of dollars.
Instead, if we spent that money feeding and clothing the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over,
not one human being excluded ... not one ... we could as one race explore inner and outer space together in peace, forever."

The boy had a point.

 

I am not a Christian.

I would never refuse treatment to any individual on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability or on any other grounds.

This is not because I am a saint - far from it; it is because I am a professional. Before (U.K.) governments and various other malicious bodies began to 'de-professionalise' the professions, being named as a professional was enough to override personal opinions on issues such as that noted by the OP.

Yes, being a professional does mean that I would treat politicians and even civil servants in need. We are allowed to treat with reluctance!

Bill

 

Bill,

You surprise me. I would have thought the opportunity to have a politician or civil servant at the business end of a number 10, would be too delicious to miss. On the subject of religion and divine intervention, I almost became a convert the other week when, three days after receiving a parking ticket by a rather officious and unpleasant warden, the same gentleman presented himself in my surgery with an extremely painful and infected cryptosis. In times like this I find one can be professional and opportunistic, without compromising the code of ethics!

After reading the allegations, if founded, one cannot help thinking the lovely Mr Hardie displays some classic closet tendencies. "Out! Out! sighs Roger"

All the best

Mark

 

Ted haggard all over again?...

 

I think this should be locked... cos its going to end up being an anti christian / anti religion debate (most likely)....

We should all remember it is ONLY one individual.... who happens to be Christian... This doesn't need an thread...

It is sad thou...

 

I disagree. I think this is an anti bigotry / anti unprofessional conduct thread. The only thing this has to do with Christianity is that that is the justification used for the behaviour.

Its not an anti Christian thread because the behavior is not Christian behavior.

With you on the sad though.

 

Rob

Let me side with you on this mate.

I know your religious beliefs and you know mine ( = none)

Have you ever known me to force my beliefs on you ??

And you haven't on me so this guy doesn't like to tx gays.

I posted a thread on here some time ago where I had a gay man wearing high heeled shoes which was causing him distress much to the amusement of many I may ad.

I don't hold with religion and I'm glad being gay may be legal but not compulsory.

He was a patient you are a good friend........= no problem ...end of

Common sense rules again I think ))))

Cheers Buddy
D ;-)

 

You presume too much.

The OP quoted from the HPC hearing. Otherwise, the only posts which mentioned religion at all were Rob - who openly stated his Christianity and I who stated that I am not a Christian (but I empathise with Rob's last post nevertheless). I never attack the beliefs of others, so you have no evidence whatsoever that the debate will become anti-Christian/anti-religion. The only person who has put this 'spin' on the subject is you, and it therefore follows that you are appealing for your own position to be closed down.

I do agree with the first point in your final paragraph 'one swallow doth not a summer make'; however, the issue is that we are all professionals no matter what our beliefs, and this is the situation which needs addressing.

All the best

Bill

 

The decision:

Full details

 

So, he'll be deregistered for 12 months, during this time he'll call himself a "foot health practitioner", do some home visits or set up in private practice and not have to pay the HPC to remain on the register (who's the one being punished here?) The NHS got rid of an employee they didn't want, and the public are protected (How? I guess patients in the NHS are now protected from his homophobic tendencies/ Christian beliefs). Shamopody in the UK, its special... so special that as long as you don't use the words chiropody(ist) or podiatry(ist) in your advertising, anyone can do it. I wish I was special... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk In for a penny... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uYWYWPc9HU&NR=1 seems to be a theme here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbtuVoXkOFg&NR=1

 

Bill

But

It does make "a good bird"
Cheers
D ;-)

 

I completely agree Simon, but maybe a spell in private practice will make him a more tolerant person. After all you don't generally get paid until after you've treated someone

 

Hmmm.

I think there is a little more too it than that. Going to be damn hard to get a job anywhere afterward with that on his record and as many people find to their cost, the skills you need in PP are very different to those you need for NHS. Plus whatever he does he'll have to work as an FHP for a year, which ain't easy. No, its not a birching but it IS going to put a serious crimp in his life for a bit. Which I think is proportionate. And more to the point it has been shown that this sort of thing is not OK.

 

As I've said before, religion is much like a penis. Its great to have one and OK to be proud of it. But its very annoying if you keep waving it in peoples faces or forcing it on people.

 

Sorry having problems with the site and my new computer

Apologies

 

__________________

Phew thats a relief then
Cheers M8
D ;-)

 

Well its pritty obvious what the outcome of this hearing will be. This man is going to be struck off due to his lack of professionalism and also giving a high risk - diabetic - with a foot ulcer a long return time. He is using his religion as a cover - but infact no true christian regardless of their beliefes would refuse to treat someone on the basis of their sexulaity - this guy belongs in a different profession! End of!

 

Best line I've heard in a while Robert.

 

Can't remember anyone ever saying that at sunday school.....

 

Thank your lucky stars you weren't indoctrinated into the Irish version of Catholicism then - otherwise the Holy Father and his Bishop would have given you regular demonstrations.

 

Nice one Mark:D:

D ;-)

 

Christian in name only not in action. Unlike this guy--Jesus loved to help the underdog, the opressed, the sick and weary. As the young people say over here---WWJD (what would Jesus do?)

 

The guys a d@!k head - whos really homephobic but uses religion as an excuse for delagting who he will treat!

 

It has been nice to see not the slightest bit of sympathy from any forum member towards his unnatural attitude to a fellow human being.

 

I have no sympathy for his actions.

I have sympathy for him though. He was wrong, by any yardstick, professional OR theological. Its a shame that his error has ruined his professional life and probably his personal life as well (do say nothing of the reputation of both his profession and his religion). I hope none of the many mistakes I have made / will make have such consequences. But as an individual I do feel sorry for him.

 

Hi Robert,
Let's have another take on this.

The Scriptures say quite clearly that homosexuality is wrong and if this chap was a Traditionalist or Fundamentalist Christian then he was staying true to his belief system.
So why should he be penalised for that?

I am now retiring to my bunker to await the fallout ..............

regards

Catfoot

 

Maybe he was just worried if he was around gays they would rub off on him...

 

Fat boy,
Now that post is naughty and doesn't exactly stimulate meaningful discussion.

Tut Tut

CF

 

Hi Catfoot
Nothing personal here and I'm sure there was a bit of tongue in cheek in the post. A theological debate can be quite fun and whilst there may be room for it I just don't think this is the place. Rob, I know, would be up for it but maybe thats a PM conversation. Anyway his little grey cells are depleting with age!!

 

OK Ian,
just playing devils advicate here .

We are discussing an HPC adjudication where Theological issues have been thrown into the mix.

Some are saying that this person's belief system was in error.

Now who are we to judge that?

Isn't that in itself a type of discrimination?

Interesting ??

regards

Catfoot

PS. sorry to hear about Robert's little grey cells, I hope those left can do the work of the x million that have gone...

 

I may wish to argue with you there, but that is a purely theological dispute and nothing to do with podiatry so as Ian says, not one for here.

Because one's belief system does not excuse one from the base rules of the society we live in.

As somebody on this forum said once (forget who it was), "my right to swing my fist ends at the tip of your nose". His belief appears to be that he can act in a discriminatory way. You're not allowed to do that, ESPECIALLY as a public employee. Therefore he is rightly penalised within the system whose rules he broke. The fact that he believed he was acting in the correct manner is neither here nor there. Membership of a profession like podiatry, and in this case the HPC, is contingent on accepting its rules. If he believes that the rules of the HPC contravene his own morals, he has a perfect right not to join it. If he wants to CHANGE the standards of the HPC he can try to do that. What he cannot do is ignore them when it suits him.

No. The HPC never said he was wrong. They said he broke the rules he agreed to keep. Whether his belief system is in error is decided way further back when we decided, as a society, that someone in a position of authority cannot disadvantage someone else on the basis of their age, hair colour, ethnic background or sexual preferences.

The right and wrong of this is a fascinating theological question I'd be happy to discuss... but this is not the forum. Thats not the point. The point is did he break the rules. He did. If we excused that because of his beliefs THAT would be discrimination. Society functions on the basis of following the rules, including the ones we don't like.

Cheers
Robert

Cheeky sod. Its hard use which is depleting those, not age. I'm still in my 30's ...

 

You`re right of course, Robert. Fascinating stuff, but not for this forum. And I agree, he did break the rules as a Health Professional.

" I`m 37, I`m not old"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZx1mUaosCI

 

Robert,
That's a good reasoned answer.

Now, let's take another scenario.
A lady from an ethnic group attends my clinic. Her culture is such that she will not remove her headwear or raise her clothes above the ankle. Hence I am unable to communicate with her effectively or perform an adequate assesment.

If I refuse to treat her on the grounds of non-co-operation am I being discriminatory?

Over to you.

Catfoot

 

Why would headwear stop her mouth working ? Ive many punk 15 year old keep there caps on during assessments, I don´t get stressed about that.

 

M Weber,

It doesn't. But if their command of English is also poor it gets a bit difficult to understand when it is muffled under a Burka.

regards

Catfoot