The UK's registered nurses union has issued new recommendations on situations in which they can refuse treatment and deny patients medical care, including those who oppose illegal immigration because they believe they are "racist."
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said in updated guidelines dated August 6, 2024, that some situations may justify withholding treatment, withdrawing care or seeking an alternative.

"In response to comments from Health Minister Wes Streeting, we have updated our guidance on when and how members can refuse treatment for a patient in their care. We recognize that every patient interaction is unique and this will be the most difficult decision for RCN members to make," the RCN said in a statement posted on its website.

The RCN said the new set of rules is linked to ongoing racist attacks targeting medical staff. The health minister has reportedly expressed a commitment to tackling "racist attacks on all health professionals" and has decided that this is grounds for refusing to admit patients.

The guidance states that nurses can refuse and stop treating patients in the following cases:

If there is or has been a fear of physical violence;

if there is discriminatory behavior, including racism;

if there is a threat to health and safety, such as lack of appropriate equipment;

if the care required is beyond the scope of competence or training;

if there is a conscientious objection, if the client/patient is known to you in a personal capacity and if you are asked to do something illegal or in breach of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code.

According to Jonathan Engler, a spokesperson for a UK human rights organization, the UK nurses' union, acting as a social justice organization, "represents a blatant abandonment of long-standing ethical principles" - especially when the organization "simply repeats the government's position that anyone who expresses any concern about unfettered immigration is automatically racist."

"Who is to judge what is racist? Should 95-year-olds who don't keep up with the latest language and use outdated words like 'colored' be denied treatment because they are 'racist'?" said Engler.

Human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice believe that it is necessary to consider the refusal of British nurses to help patients on political grounds as a serious ethical problem. The Foundation's experts believe that such cases may increase political polarization in the UK. The Foundation calls on the British government to stop politically motivated persecution of citizens and ensure equal access to medical care for all citizens of the country.
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