The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) announced the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) has removed a citation against Vancouver area nurse, Amy Hamm, who was accused of making statements with “medically inaccurate information” while advocating for sex-based rights. .“The College is tasked with keeping patients safe and regulating the profession in the public interest,” said former JCCF lawyer Lisa Bildy in a Monday press release. .“Their job is not to give social justice activists a tool for cancelling people with whom they do not agree, or who have opinions outside of a narrow orthodoxy.” .The press release said an investigation was launched against Hamm by the BCCNM in 2020 after complaints about her gender-critical beliefs. It said these complaints came after her involvement with setting up an “I Love JK Rowling” billboard display in Vancouver, endorsing the author’s support for sex-based rights. .Gender-critical feminists state that while transgender people should be respected, self-identifying as a different gender does not equate to changing sex. These feminists claim confusing sex with self-identified gender threatens women’s sex-based rights. .The BCCNM Inquiry Committee referred Hamm’s complaints to a disciplinary panel. A hearing had been scheduled for spring 2022, but was adjourned to the fall. .The charge against Hamm was served to her in April, and it was posted to the BCCNM’s website. The regulatory college alleged she “made discriminatory and derogatory statements regarding transgender people, some of which [statements] included medically inaccurate information, while identifying [herself] as a nurse, or nurse educator.”.The updated charge said she “made discriminatory and derogatory statements regarding transgender people, while identifying [herself] as a nurse, or nurse educator.” .Bildy said regulatory colleges are subjected to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. .“This case will set an important precedent for regulated professionals who engage in the public square in policy debates which may be contentious, as it seems virtually everything is in these times,” she said. .Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (CAWSBAR) praised the dropped charge. .“Excellent news for @preta_6 and, indeed, everyone who values freedom of speech, thought, belief, opinion and expression in Canada!” said CAWSBAR..The hearing will be conducted by video conference from September 21 to 23 and October 24 to 27. Anyone interested in attending the hearing must pre-register by September 13 by emailing inquiry@bccnm.ca. .BCCNM communications director, Alison Amratlal, said the college assesses all incidents before bringing them to disciplinary hearings. .“If the discipline committee finds that an allegation listed in the citation is proven, it will reconvene to decide what sanctions will be imposed and what costs are to be paid,” said Amratlal. .“Sanctions can range from a 'do not repeat' to a cancellation of registration with costs in the most serious cases.”.Amratlal said a nurse’s actions outside of work could impact the public’s perception of him or her and trust in the profession. She said behaviours classified as unprofessional misconduct are within the BCCNM’s authority to decide.
