Unlocking the archives: GMC reveals role in landmark moment for women in medicine 150 years ago
The General Medical Council (GMC) has shared archive documents from a pivotal moment 150 years ago that changed the course of women’s medical careers in Britain.
Earlier this year the GMC shared that there are now more women than men practising medicine in the UK, but in the late 19th century, women were unable to qualify with a medical degree in the UK. In June 1875 the Privy Council asked the GMC for its opinion on a Bill which proposed to allow women to qualify as doctors with degrees from one of the universities in Europe or North America that admitted women. The GMC was also asked for its view on the wider consequences if the Bill passed and women were given greater access to medical careers.
The records show the Council objected to the Bill proposal on the grounds of fairness as men were not permitted to register with a foreign degree. On the broader question of women in medicine, the deep divisions on Council led to a seemingly unprecedented three-day debate.
Ultimately, the Council adopted a compromise position, stating that “The Medical Council are of opinion that the study and practice of Medicine and Surgery, instead of affording a field of exertion well fitted for Women, do, on the contrary, present special difficulties which cannot be safely disregarded. However, the Council are not prepared to say that Women ought to be excluded from the Profession.”
GMC archivist Courtney Brucato shared the documents with Chair of the GMC, Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen, along with other historical documents from the time which paint a picture of the societal and cultural context of the time.
Dame Carrie said:
‘It’s been fascinating to see how this issue was approached by the GMC Council at the time and to learn more about some of the specific objections raised, many of which seem startling to the modern eye, but of course were completely mainstream views at the time. The compromise position they reached hardly seems overwhelmingly enthusiastic when viewed through a modern lens, but the non-exclusion clause was seen as deeply significant at that time, and was welcomed by those campaigning for women to have access to a career in medicine.’
The Bill was ultimately defeated in Parliament, but campaigners were gaining ground, and the GMC position had lent further momentum. There would be a change in the law the following year, with universities enabled, although not compelled, to admit women.
Dame Carrie said:
‘In 1875 Council was made up of representatives of university medical schools. It was a real conflict of interest as so many of the universities had been outspoken about their position on female students. It’s hard to imagine this today from a position where the GMC is clear about its responsibility to hold universities to account and to have a diverse Council free of vested interests. The power structures made progress for women in medicine slow and arduous, and reliant on strong voices, painstaking efforts and hard-won gains.’
Courtney also showed Dame Carrie writings an essay by Sophia Jex-Blake, where she reflected on the Council proceedings. Dr Jex-Blake would be one of the first women to benefit from the later legislative change and be granted registration. It was her campaigning with parliamentarians that had led to development of the Bill and these questions being put to the GMC.
