Trans doctor Lis Upton named in Australian hospital patient allegation

Dr Beth Upton, now known as Lis, has been named in an allegation concerning a woman treated at a New South Wales hospital, renewing debate about patient choice and how transgender clinicians’ status is recorded. The report says the patient was concerned after recognising Upton as male, while her family feared she would be pressured to accept treatment; the hospital’s account and the patient’s own perspective are not included.

Upton began work in the emergency department at Port Macquarie Base Hospital in April, after leaving the NHS following a Scottish employment tribunal involving nurse Sandie Peggie. Australian law does not require transgender doctors to disclose their gender history to patients, according to the article. Campaigners have called for an investigation and explanations from state health authorities and the regulator, while a hospital nurse was quoted as saying colleagues welcomed Upton.