Nurse who challenged trans doctor for using female changing rooms is cleared

[Twiglets1]

An NHS nurse has been cleared of misconduct after challenging a trans doctor who used a female changing room.

Sandie Peggie was accused of misconduct by NHS Fife after questioning the presence of Dr Beth Upton.

Margaret Gribbon, Ms Peggie’s solicitor, said in a statement: “On Tuesday July 14, the evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife health board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld.

“This follows a disciplinary hearing on June 25, which considered four gross misconduct allegations: two relating to patient care failures, one of ‘misgendering’ Dr Upton, and one relating to her encounter with Dr Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023.

“Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month-long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/16/nhs-nurse-cleared-of-misconduct-after-challenging-trans-doc/

Do you understand the motivation of power of a non-consenting person being the same in touching a non-consenting person and forcing a sexual act?

I thought it was well established that it is a power dynamic often rather than sexual dynamic.

His parents have smoothed his path all his life.
Sandie Peggie stood in his way.

The rest of the tribunal will be popcorn central.

Agree it’s going to be very interesting to see how it all unfolds.

He wanted the attention on him while he was “winning” - much less so now I imagine.

Upton was quite happy to make career ending false accusations about Sandie endangering patients. He deserves to be sacked, at the very least he should face disciplinary action.

A man's delusions do not override a patients consent

Never said they did and he may well face some punishment or disciplinary action - possibly even a criminal prosecution after this case finishes.

His state of mind at the time will still be taken into account & there is plenty of evidence that he sees himself as female ( even if many of us consider him delusional).

Rape is not just about sex. It is about power. He was forcing unwilling women to go along with his wishes because he had the power to do so and it made him feel powerful. If you remove the sexual aspect, this is a rapists mentality. He was doing this to make himself feel good, even though he knew the women were unwilling. And he has not been punished nearly enough.

there is plenty of evidence that he sees himself as female

He can see himself as whatever he likes. But biologically he is male. And as a doctor who has trained for many years in science to become a doctor, he knows that.

I know that and this discussion is getting us nowhere because we won’t agree. As I suggested to another user it’s time to agree to disagree because this one aspect of the case is not what the whole thread is about. For that reason I won’t be commenting on the “rape mentality” aspect any more.

His state of mind at the time will still be taken into account & there is plenty of evidence that he sees himself as female ( even if many of us consider him delusional).

I'm curious as to why you think that would be a reason for him not to lose his job?

Would you want someone delusional as your doctor?

"His state of mind at the time will still be taken into account & there is plenty of evidence that he sees himself as female ( even if many of us consider him delusional)."

If a trainee doctor has evidenced that they believe themselves a senior specialist, should their state of mind at the time be taken into account?

Why is this particular sub group of people to be extended any leeway that would not be acceptable in any other 'delusion' to use your own word?

Can you explain your thinking please? Because I have seen a lot of posts censuring women's words based on this type of sentiment. The sentiment that this group genuinely believes something about themselves that is objectively not true. No matter what type of philosophical theorising is done to support it as being somehow 'true'. I would like to know why it is relevant that they hold this belief that is never going to be true in mitigating their actions. Isn't that infantilising those people?

@Helleofabore 13:54 today As I suggested to another user it’s time to agree to disagree because this one aspect of the case is not what the whole thread is about. For that reason I won’t be commenting on the “rape mentality” aspect any more.

Sadly I don’t think there will be any consequences at all for Dr Upton.

I doubt there will be any real consequences from his employer because after all, they took the decision to support him and to suspend Sandie.

It is possible someone could take a civil lawsuit against him though, if they can prove he harmed them. Sandie would have a case against him, presumably, though it may be that her case would be against the hospital that employed them both and failed to protect her, rather than against him as an individual.

Sandie Peggie is the Claimant in this case, isn't she? Against both NHS Fife Health Board and Dr. Beth Upton? I know this an Employment Tribunal and not a civil suit, but surely her (inevitable) win here would make it a walk in the park should she choose to bring that civil suit. (I only mention this because an awful lot of people seem to think that she's the Defendant in this case..)

What would you call a man who knows that you have only given consent to a female to do an internal examination on you if he lied said he was a woman and then did the internal exam on you.
Because I'd call him a predatory sexual offender who had seriously sexually assaulted me

So we can discuss his behaviour and the motivation that shapes that behaviour and we won't expect you to answer any questions about it. Because that motivation and the behaviour are both very important to have frank and blunt discussions about. Is that ok?

No way

Just No "Poor Dear" when he tried to have a long term A&E nurse sacked because she would not be in a room while he undressed.

That is old fashioned sexual harrassment and a power play as old as time.

If a professional doctor cant work out what a penis means he or she has no right to attempt to pratice medicine on the public.

If the Doctor can not communicate in English using basic medical terms like female the Doctor has no place in a medical team and should never be allowed into an A&E situation where unclear communication can kill.

A foreign / non-native english speaking doctor would be reported and removed from the Register if the Doctor could not correctly use the term female or woman.

So no.

No UK native speaker free pass.

No free pass for a professional doctor who passed tests which proves he knows what sex is.

He knows what the word female means and not only would he carry out an exam he said he expected others to participate in an assault (that could including a sexual assault) on a girl or woman who asked for same sex care.

Apologies, I didn't quite finish my example. I will try again.

"His state of mind at the time will still be taken into account & there is plenty of evidence that he sees himself as female ( even if many of us consider him delusional)."

If a trainee doctor has evidenced that they believe themselves a senior specialist, should their state of mind at the time be taken into account if they operate on a patient who has been told that this is a senior specialist?

Why is this particular sub group of people to be extended any leeway that would not be acceptable in any other 'delusion' to use your own word?

Can you explain your thinking please? Because I have seen a lot of posts censuring women's words based on this type of sentiment. The sentiment that this group genuinely believes something about themselves that is objectively not true. No matter what type of philosophical theorising is done to support it as being somehow 'true'. I would like to know why it is relevant that they hold this belief that is never going to be true in mitigating their actions. Isn't that infantilising those people?

Sorry but I also completely disagree. It’s nothing to do with being a lynch mob. As someone who has been raped I have no time for any man who tries to deceive women into accepting him in to their private space. And by lying by omission to women about his true sex that is exactly what he has done. He absolutely deserves to lose his job. His feelings do not outweigh that of abuse victims.

If the state of mind of a male doctor is that he thinks he's biologically female, I question his fitness to practice before all else.

Dr Upton needs striking off by the GMC even if his employer won’t do anything. He’s openly said he would treat someone against their wishes without informed consent. Sadly I expect the gmc to be as useless.

Thank you Twiglet1, I think this was a good way of drawing a line under a debate that could have gone on and on and ...

oh dear it did!
Either posters didn't read this post of yours, or they decided that unlike you, they wanted the thread to continue being snagged on it, and continue to argue about the use of the term 'rape mentality', even after you had suggested agreeing to disagree.

DrU is a nasty manipulative misguided misogynistic bully, and he took full advantage of the 'captured' management at NHS Fife who were determined to throw an experienced nurse - about whom, it was admitted today at the tribunal, there had been no previous complaints - under the bus because the alternative was to treat a trans doctor with something less than total reverence and deference.

He clearly does not attach any importance to women's consent.
Obviously, that is also a characteristics of rapists, but on reflection I agree with Twiglet1 that bringing rape into this case isn't appropriate.

We have literally no idea whether he “genuinely sees himself as female” or not., and no way to ascertain that.

We only have his claim that he is a “trans woman” (not even a claim to be female, NB).

As has been conceded in court yesterday & today, there is no discernible difference between a man who sincerely but falsely claims to be a woman & a man who insincerely & knowingly claims falsely to be a woman.

Either way, he’s not.

Upton also falsely - it turned out - made allegations about Peggie’s fitness to practice, long after the event, when the initial suspension failed.

Was he being sincere then too?

I would hate to be a patient of Dr Upton’s. I would not want to be treated by them at all. The very fact that they see themselves as biologically female, and denies biological sex ought to be taken up by the GMC to be honest. They should not be practicing medicine with such medically and scientifically incorrect views.