The British Medical Association has issued an advice to it s members to not call pregnant women 'expectant mothers' because doing so could offend transgender people. Insated, they should be called "pregnant people."
According to The Telegraph, this advice comes in an internal document to staff which outlined a draft of common phrases that should be avoided in order to not offend anyone. The document, BMA said, is purely guidance for its staff on effective communication within the workplace - not advice to its members on how to deal with their patients.
This Move Is To Celebrate Diversity, BMA Said
BMA insists that this move is to "celebrate diversity." The 14-page booklet called "A Guide To Effective Communication: Inclusive Language In The Workplace" also said that a big number of people who got pregnant or have given birth identify themselves as mothers, but "there are some intersex men and trans men who may get pregnant," Daily Mail Online quoted.
This came after reports of a 20-year-old legally male transgender who had to put his operation on hold in order to have a baby. BMA added "we can include intersex men and trans men who may get pregnant by saying "pregnant people" instead of "expectant mothers."
Some Say That BMA's Document Could Offend Women
However, some activists are not happy about BMA's statement. Women's campaigner Laura Perrins said that the advice is "anti-science, anti-women and anti-mother" because "as every doctor knows only females can have children." She added that to say otherwise is "offensive and dangerous." Perrins added that this move could offend women in the whole country, and that this is an example of women being "insulted for a tiny minority of people."
BMA responded to the criticisms saying that the guide is for BMA staff and representatives aimed at promoting an inclusive workplace at the BMA. The organization added that "it is not workplace guidance for doctors, which is clear from the fact as it does not refer to patients."
