The Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife and Dr Beth Upton tribunal continued today in Dundee, Scotland.
Ms Naomi Cunningham of Outer Temple Chambers, counsel for Ms Sandie Peggie, resumed her cross-examination of Dr Beth Upton.
Throughout the tribunal today, Dr Upton maintained that he is “not a man”. Dr Upton is a male who identifies as a woman.
Under cross-examination, Dr Upton insisted that he is not under any obligation to reveal the fact that he is male or that he is transgender to patients under his care. “These are not things that I’m obligated to share with a patient,” stated Dr Upton today.
Dr Upton also disclosed that he treats female patients, who have specifically requested a female doctor, unless the patient directly objects to him as their clinician.
The genesis of this tribunal was an incident which occurred on 24 December 2023 in Arlington Hospital, Fife, when Dr Upton clashed with Ms Sandie Peggie over his presence in the female changing room. Dr Upton claimed that this “bigoted outburst” left him “very afraid, very shaken, very upset and very distressed” and that he had to put his “big girl pants on and be brave”.
Due to the allegations made by Dr Upton, Ms Peggie, a nurse of thirty years, was suspended. The tribunal, which has now concluded its seventh day, looks set to overrun the ten days previously allocated for the case.
Yesterday, the tribunal saw Dr Upton refer to himself as “biologically female” and claim that biological sex is a “nebulous dog whistle”.
The tribunal continues tomorrow.
Editor: This story was contributed by Gript Media’s work experience student, who has come to us on placement this week from a Dublin-based school.