A B.C. family doctor has been ordered to pay $28,100 after refusing to give a transgender-identifying 14-year-old a puberty-blocker injection, citing religious and cultural beliefs.
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal found Dr. Henry Ajaero discriminated against the teen based on gender identity when he refused to administer Lupron at his Delta clinic in March 2021.
“I am not persuaded that this was justified by Dr. Ajaero’s religious beliefs or lack of medical expertise,” tribunal vice-chair Devyn Cousineau wrote.
Ajaero had been the teen’s family doctor since 2017 and had previously referred the patient, identified in the ruling as “Child Q,” to a gender clinic at B.C. Children’s Hospital.
