The Secular Medical Forum campaigns for a secular approach to current major health issues.

We are opposed to religious influences in Medicine where these affect the manner in which medical practice is performed. We campaign to protect patients from the harm caused by the imposition of religious values and activities on people who do not share the same values and beliefs.

The SMF directs itself to the improvement of the human condition. SMF members do not recognise the assumed authority of religious bodies and we challenge their traditional privileges in healthcare service provision or decision-making.

Membership of the Secular Medical Forum is open to all health care professionals in the UK and their respective students. Non health care professionals are welcome to join the SMF as associate members. Please contact Dr Antony Lempert at antony@secularmedicalforum.org.uk.

Non-therapeutic surgery on the sexual organs of male minors was on the agenda at the BMA ARM in Cardiff. But it was sidelined as not of sufficient importance to be debated as of right.

A peaceful demonstration, reported by the BBC here took place outside the conference venue on Monday 27th June 2011 asking BMA representatives to choose this motion for debate and asking the BMA why they have chosen not to debate this important topic.

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In December 2009, the SMF and the NSS jointly submitted a response to the Director of Public Prosecution’s Interim Policy for Prosecutors on Assisted Suicide. The consultation followed the ruling in the House of Lords in the Debbie Purdy case that the existing law should be clarified. Our submission is available to read on the resources section of the website. The DPP published his final policy in early 2010.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is a new regulatory body for pharmacists. The SMF responded to the consultation exercise by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) in January. Our full response is available to read on the resources section of the website.

The SMF was disappointed to hear that the GPhC intends to allow pharmacists with strong personal religious beliefs to opt out of providing some services to patients. Patients’ needs should take priority over the views of professional healthcare providers who have freely chosen their profession. We will continue to lobby for a code of conduct similar to the code produced by the GMC for medical practitioners.

Pharmacists should be prepared to set aside their own views if that is what is in the best interests of patients.

On 23th September 2010 the SMF submitted its response to the GMC consultation on child protection. Our full response is available to read on the resources section of this website. We urged the GMC to offer explicit guidance to help doctors to distinguish between inappropriate challenge to their patients’ beliefs and necessary challenge to cultural or religious practices harmful to children.