Jessica O'ConnorThe British Medical Association (BMA) has taken a clear stance in support of doctors’ rights to engage in non-violent climate activism without facing damage to their professional careers.
At the BMA’s Annual Representative Meeting on Tuesday, delegates passed key elements of a motion that underscores the ethical responsibility of doctors to act on the climate crisis and urged for further protections within employment and regulatory frameworks.
The motion, proposed by the Lothian Division, stated that climate change is a public health emergency and affirmed that doctors have an ethical duty to advocate for urgent action.
The meeting also voted in favour of a provision condemning punitive measures – such as regulatory complaints or employment repercussions – against medical professionals who take part in peaceful climate protests.
Importantly, the BMA agreed to call on its Professional Regulation Committee to push for explicit protections in employment contracts, General Medical Council (GMC) procedures, and workplace policies.
These protections would aim to ensure that doctors are not professionally penalised for their advocacy.
However, not all parts of the motion were adopted.
A proposal demanding that the BMA provide legal and professional support to doctors facing disciplinary or regulatory investigations as a result of their activism did not pass.
Another section, calling for the organisation to lobby for a change in law that would clarify the legitimacy of climate-related protest by doctors, carried only as a reference, meaning it was noted but not formally endorsed.
Responding to the vote, Dr Nora Murray-Cavanagh, deputy chair of BMA Scotland Council, said: “Given that climate change is a pressing public health emergency doctors are well placed to advocate for urgent action.
“Doctors should have the right to engage in non-violent climate activism without fear of regulatory complaints or employment repercussions.
“It is important that doctors have explicit protections within employment contracts, GMC processes and workplace policies to ensure that they do not face any detriment to their career for engaging in nonviolence climate advocacy.”
