A Uganda-born senior nurse in the UK, Jennifer Melle, is fighting to save her career after being disciplined for refusing to refer to a convicted transgender paedophile as a woman.
Melle, 40, who works at Epsom and St Helier University Hospital Trust in Carshalton, Surrey, declined to use female pronouns for the offender, known as Patient X, who is currently serving time in a high-security male prison for luring young boys into sexual acts while posing as a teenage girl online.
Following her refusal, Melle claims she was subjected to racial abuse and physical threats from the inmate. However, instead of receiving support, she was issued a final written warning and referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for investigation.
The Incident
According to reports, the confrontation occurred last year when Patient X, escorted by two prison guards, arrived at Melle’s ward for medical treatment. During the visit, the inmate became aggressive and used racial slurs, including the N-word, towards Melle after overhearing her refer to them as mister during a phone call with a doctor.
Melle, a Christian, defended her stance, stating that she could not use female pronouns due to her religious beliefs but was willing to address the patient by their chosen name.
Despite her professional conduct, an internal investigation by the hospital concluded that she had failed to respect the patient’s preferred identity, violating the NMC’s code of conduct.
Legal Battle and Public Outcry
Melle, who has worked for 12 years without prior complaints, now faces financial difficulties after being denied overtime and fears losing her job. She has since filed a legal claim against the NHS, arguing that her rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights have been violated.
The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Melle, has condemned the hospital’s actions, accusing the NHS of being “captured by transgender ideology” to the extent of prioritizing a convicted paedophile over a dedicated healthcare professional.
Andrea Williams, the Centre’s chief executive, has called for government intervention, urging Health Secretary Wes Streeting to investigate the case.
Hospital’s Response
A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust stated that the matter is still under ongoing internal proceedings and declined to comment further.
