British Medical Association#History

{{main|Provincial Medical and Surgical Association| George Webster (medical practitioner)}}

The British Medical Association traces its origins to the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association (PMSA), founded by Sir Charles Hastings on 19 July 1832, and to the "British Medical Association" founded by George Webster in 1836. Ten years after its initial meeting the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association's membership had grown to 1,350 and it had begun to publish a weekly journal, The Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal. In 1853 the PMSA extended its membership to London doctors and 1856 transformed itself into the British Medical Association. From 1857 their journal was known as the British Medical Journal or BMJ.

File:British Medical Assoc logo 1897.jpg

Although not initially formed with the aim of initiating medical reform, the BMA played a key role in the drafting and passing of the Medical Act 1858, which established the General Medical Council and set a standard for qualified and unqualified doctors and established a system of professional regulation. Prior to this anyone, qualified or not, could practice as a doctor. This also positioned the BMA to play a major role in future medical politics, campaigning on issues such as Poor Law Medicine, quackery, public health, alternative and military medicine, and contract practice. During this time one of the most active and influential of the association's bodies was the Parliamentary Bills Committee, formed in 1863 to take a leading role in influencing legislation on public health matters.{{cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=M J D |title=The Politics of Professionalization: MPs, Medical Men, and the 1858 Medical Act |journal=Medical History |date=17 May 2012 |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=37–56 |doi=10.1017/s0025727300003306 |pmid=19190748 |pmc=2629176}}

In May 1911 the Government introduced the National Health Insurance Bill which presented the BMA with new challenges. This bill introduced the idea that for a maximum contribution of four pence a week every employed person in the country could be insured against treatment costs for sickness. The BMA supported the principle but had a number of reservations about the scheme including the lack of doctor involvement in delivering the medical benefits, which were instead being delivered by friendly societies and trade unions. In response the BMA produced "Six Cardinal Points" which it felt should be included in any legislation.

At the BMA's general meeting in July 1912, incoming president Sir James Barr condemned the National Health Insurance Bill as "the most gigantic fraud which had ever been perpetrated on the public since the South Sea Bubble." Addressing "a large and distinguished audience," Barr "spoke eloquently and forcibly in favour of the improvement of the race by attention to eugenics, and pointed out the necessity of preventing disease as well of curing it. No serious attempt, he said, had yet been made to prevent the race from being carried on by its least worthy citizens." Barr explained that: "If such an attempt was to be successful we must begin with the unborn. The race must be renewed from the mentally and physically fit, and moral and physical degenerates should not be allowed to take any part in adding to it".Doctors' Ultimatum to Ministers, The Times, 24 July 1912:7

Ultimately the final bill was passed in 1913 in which four of the six points had been included. This resulted in an income limit of £2 per week being set to join the scheme, there was to be free choice of doctor by patient, the payment to the doctor should be adequate, and finally there should be adequate medical representation among the various bodies working on the Act.

With the start of World War I, the BMA formed a Central Medical War Committee (CMWC), and was given responsibility by the government for managing the demand for doctors in the armed forces whilst maintaining a full medical service for civilians. The BMA repeated this role during World War II. During this time the BMA also campaigned on issues such as the production and marketing of "secret remedies", nutrition and physical fitness, the relationship of alcohol to road accidents, and the medical aspects of abortion. The BMA had a Committee on Nutrition, who in 1934 published a report on minimum nutritional requirements, referred to in an interview with Marjorie Soper, an employee of Eleanor Rathbone, talking about her work on children's nutrition.{{Cite web |last=London School of Economics and Political Science |first= |title=The Suffrage Interviews |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/library/collection-highlights/the-suffrage-interviews |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=London School of Economics and Political Science |language=en-GB}}

Early in the Second World War, the BMA became aware of the need for a change in the provision of medical care to the public after the end of the war and during peacetime, so shortly after the war, the BMA had produced its own plan for a "general medical service for the nation".{{cite web |title=Extract from Supplement to the British Medical Journal |url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/thirties-britain/general-medical-service-nation/ |website=National Archives |date=1 August 1936 |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113221925/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/thirties-britain/general-medical-service-nation/ |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |title=A General Medical Service for the Nation, by Ralph M. F. Picken, B.Sc., M.B., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Cardiff. (Fellow.) |journal=Journal of the Royal Sanitary Institute |date=7 September 2016 |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=64–71 |doi=10.1177/146642403305400204|s2cid=221051652 }}

After the Labour Party won the 1945 general election and formed a government under Clement Attlee pledging national health insurance, the BMA spent three years negotiating with Health Minister Aneurin Bevan to allow the continuation of capitation fees, private practice, and paybeds under the new National Health Service.{{Cite book |last=Thorpe |first=Andrew |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-1-349-25305-0 |title=A History of the British Labour Party |date=1997 |publisher=Macmillan Education UK |isbn=978-0-333-56081-5 |location=London |pages=122–123|doi=10.1007/978-1-349-25305-0 |access-date=27 June 2022 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104044252/https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-349-25305-0 |url-status=live }}

During the 7 July 2005 London bombings a London Buses route 30 double decker bus exploded near the BMA headquarters on Upper Woburn Place, damaging it. After the explosion, some medical professionals in the building were able to assist police and ambulance personnel.{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/health-33363949 | title = 'In a day of awfulness, we were lucky to do some good' | newspaper = BBC News | date = 7 July 2015 | access-date = 24 April 2022 | archive-date = 24 April 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220424081004/https://www.bbc.com/news/health-33363949 | url-status = live }}

As of August 2024 the BMA had 195,000 members.{{cite web |title=BMA membership hits record high, highlighting doctors' support for industrial action |url=https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-membership-hits-record-high-highlighting-doctors-support-for-industrial-action |website=British Medical Association |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104044333/https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-membership-hits-record-high-highlighting-doctors-support-for-industrial-action |url-status=live }}

It is officially recognised by the British government and by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. The BMA has sole national bargaining rights for most groups of doctors although, for consultants, these are shared with the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA).

Members of the BMA have access to employment advice, covering subjects including contract checking, job planning, pay disputes and relationship issues.

Members also receive a subscription to The BMJ, and other associated resources.

As part of the representative remit of the BMA, it has a number of representative committees{{cite web|url=https://www.bma.org.uk/about-us/get-involved/about-us|title=Tell me about the BMA|website=Bma.org.uk|date=21 August 2015|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910213115/https://www.bma.org.uk/about-us/get-involved/about-us|url-status=live}} formed from members elected at the Annual Representatives Meeting (ARM) and via other election processes. The most senior of these is Council, which meets five times a year to implement policy as decided at the ARM and to take relevant decisions during the year. Council has 34 voting members, led by the Chair who is elected by council for an initial term of three years and to a maximum of five.

The Board of Professional Activities reports to Council and considers ethical, scientific, research, and educational matters whilst The Board of Representative and Political Activities considers reports from the following committees which represent doctors across the seven branches of practice, namely:

• Consultants Committee (CC) – representing senior hospital doctors
• General Practitioners Committee (GPC) – representing NHS General Practitioners (GPs) and GP trainees throughout their training{{cite web|url=http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/how-we-work/negotiating-committees/general-practitioners-committee/gp-trainees-subcommittee|title=GP trainees subcommittee|website=Bma.org.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411175247/http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/how-we-work/negotiating-committees/general-practitioners-committee/gp-trainees-subcommittee|archive-date=11 April 2013}}
• Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) – representing junior hospital doctors
• Medical Academic Staff Committee (MASC) – representing academic and research staff
• Medical Students Committee (MSC) – representing medical students
• Public Health Medicine Committee (PHMC) – representing public and community health doctors
• Staff and Associate Specialists Committee(SASC) – for doctors in the non consultant career grades.

Branch of Practice committees have a majority of BMA members but may also include non-members. All members are elected. These UK committees are mirrored across the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The BMA has a Medical Ethics Committee{{cite web|url=http://www.bma.org.uk/ethics/index.jsp|title=Medical Ethics Committee|website=Bma.org.uk|access-date=19 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129220139/http://www.bma.org.uk/ethics/index.jsp|archive-date=29 November 2010}} provides guidance to the association on current and developing issues in medical ethics. The committee debates issues of principle including those touching on:

The BMA supports armed forces doctors through its Armed Forces Committee (AFC) which represents clinicians in all parts of the armed forces, whether they are deployed to war zones, acting as reservists or civilian doctors employed by the Ministry of Defence.{{cite web|url=http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/how-we-work/negotiating-committees/armed-forces-committee|title=Armed Forces Committee|website=Bma.org.uk|publisher=BMA|access-date=16 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525085528/http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/how-we-work/negotiating-committees/armed-forces-committee|archive-date=25 May 2013}} A large part of the AFC's work is the production of evidence to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB). The AFPRB advises on remuneration for members of the naval, military, and air forces. Further to this work, the AFC negotiates with the Ministry of Defence on the terms and conditions for civilian doctors.{{cite web|url=http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wlu/SGOY-7KQD7S?OpenDocument&vw=wfmmsBMA|title=Comment on new pay deal for Civilian GPs employed by the MOD|website=Web2.bma.org.uk|access-date=20 May 2013|archive-date=20 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220080548/http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wlu/SGOY-7KQD7S?OpenDocument&vw=wfmmsBMA|url-status=dead}} The committee holds two conferences a year; an Armed Forces Committee conference usually in May and a Civilian Doctors' conference usually in October.

The BMA supports doctors that undertake private practice outside the NHS through its Private Practice Committee. This body considers topics facing both private consultants and general practitioners.{{cite web|url=http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/how-we-work/professional-activities-and-special-interest/private-practice-committee|title=BMA – Private practice committee (PPC)|website=Bma.org.uk|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-date=19 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919095426/http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/how-we-work/professional-activities-and-special-interest/private-practice-committee|url-status=live}} The committee meets three times a year and holds conferences in relation to private practice. The main issues currently being dealt with by the committee include looking at the implementation of revalidation in the independent sector and addressing difficulties that doctors experience in relation to new ways of working by the private medical insurers.

The Special Chloroform Committee of the British Medical Association (sometimes referred to as the "Third Chloroform Committee"{{cite journal |last=Shearer |first=WM. M. |year=1960 |title=The Evolution of Premedication |journal=British Journal of Anaesthesia |volume=32 |issue=11 |pages=554–562 |doi=10.1093/bja/32.11.554 |doi-access=free}}) was established in 1901 following the annual meeting of the British Medical Association and it produced its last final report 1910. The committee was instigated to investigate chloroform, which was a subject of great interest to the profession and the public at the time.{{cite journal |last=Enquirer |date=1862-11-29 |title=The Chloroform Committee |journal=The British Medical Journal |volume=2 |issue=100 |pages=573 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.100.573 |jstor=25199328}}

The committee was started with a budget of £100{{cite journal |date=1902-07-12 |title=Association Intelligence |journal=The British Medical Journal |volume=2 |issue=2167 |pages=107, 116–118 |jstor=20272744}} and the committee was chaired by Dr. A. D. Waller,{{cite journal |last=Buxton |first=Dudley W. |date=1902-07-19 |title=Special Chloroform Committee |journal=The British Medical Journal |volume=2 |issue=2168 |pages=226 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.3214.226 |jstor=20273050}} and consisted of Dr. Barr, Dr. Dudley Buxton, Sir Victor Horsley, Dr. Sherrington and Dr Walker (and later A. Vernon Hardcourt and Professor Dunstan) "to investigate methods of quantitatively determining the presence of chloroform in the air and the living body".

In their final report, the committee stated that chloroform doses above 2% were unsafe as cardiac arrest occurred under inhibition of the vagus nerve.{{cite journal |date=1910-07-09 |title=Final Report Of Special Chloroform Committee |journal=The British Medical Journal |volume=2 |issue=2584 |pages=47–72 |jstor=25291374}} They also selected a list of inhalers suitable for giving accurate measures of chloroform.

The BMA also has a number of committees which represent other specialities and interests which affect its members, including:

• Medical Ethics
• Board of Medical Education
• Equality and Diversity Committee
• Pensions
• Armed Forces
• Civil and Public Services Committee
• International Committee
• Medico-Legal
• Occupational Health
• GP Registrars Subcommittee{{Cite web |title=BMA - GP trainees committee |url=https://www.bma.org.uk/collective-voice/committees/general-practitioners-committee/gp-trainees-committee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817123314/https://www.bma.org.uk/collective-voice/committees/general-practitioners-committee/gp-trainees-committee |archive-date=17 August 2019 |access-date=17 August 2019 |website=www.bma.org.uk}}

File:BMA House.JPG

BMA House has been the headquarters of the BMA since 1925, the association being previously housed at 429 The Strand since its move to London. In addition to offices for its staff, the building is used for BMA conferences and events{{Cite web|url=https://www.bma.org.uk/events|title=BMA – Events|website=www.bma.org.uk|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407144315/https://www.bma.org.uk/events|url-status=live}} and parts of the building are available on a private hire basis for events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goaskeve.com/venues/bma-house/|title=BMA House Venue Hire – Unique Event Spaces London | eve|website=By Eve|access-date=7 October 2019|archive-date=7 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007152002/https://www.goaskeve.com/venues/bma-house/|url-status=live}} The building, Grade II listed since 1982,{{National Heritage List for England|num=1378968|desc=British Medical Association House including Screen and Gates|access-date=6 June 2020}} was originally designed for the Theosophical Society by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with work commencing in September 1911. However the start of World War I interrupted construction and the Army Pay Office took over the uncompleted building. After the war the Theosophical Society could not afford to finish the building, and it was sold to the BMA for £50,000, with the association later purchasing the freehold of the site from the Bedford Estates in 1962.

After purchasing the building, the BMA commissioned Lutyens to complete the building to its specifications and it was officially opened by King George V and Queen Mary on 13 July 1925.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f5lAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5161%2C1704461 |title=British Medical Association. The King opens new headquarters. |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=14 July 1925 |page=8 |access-date=4 July 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405042820/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f5lAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5161%2C1704461 |url-status=live }} However, plans were soon commissioned from Cyril Wontner Smith to extend the building to overlook Tavistock Square, and this was completed in 1929. The association later commissioned Douglas Wood to design further extensions on either side of Wontner Smith's front entrance (built 1938–1949), to the south (1947–1950) and at the back of the building (1959–1960).

A 1954 war memorial by James Woodford in the central courtyard – a bronze fountain in a stepped pool, with four stone statues – is Grade II* listed, and described by Historic England as a particularly good example of a Second World War memorial to a civilian profession.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1378969|desc=War Memorial at British Medical Association House|access-date=6 June 2020|fewer-links=yes}}

Chairs of the BMA include the following.

{{Incomplete list|date=April 2014}}

• 1884–? Professor James Cuming{{cite web|year=2009|title=Professor James Cuming|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/cuming-james-a2291|access-date=25 June 2022|doi=10.3318/dib.002291.v1|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625215442/https://www.dib.ie/biography/cuming-james-a2291|url-status=live}}
• 1943–1949 Sir Guy Dain{{cite journal|year=1966|title=Sir Guy Dain, F.R.C.S., Hon. M.D., Hon. L.L.D. (1870–1966)|journal=Ann R Coll Surg Engl|volume=38|issue=6|pages=391–392|pmc=2312112|pmid=5329162}}
• 1949–?: Robert Leech Newell
• ?–1966: John Raymond Nicholson-Lailey
• 1966–1971: Sir Ronald Gibson{{cite journal |title=Obituary: Sir Ronald Gibson |journal=British Medical Journal |date=1989 |volume=298 |page=1574|doi=10.1136/bmj.298.6687.1574 |s2cid=220167732 }}
• ?–1976: Walpole Lewin
• 1976–1979: Sir James Cameron{{cite news|date=25 October 1991|title=Sir James Cameron|work=The Herald|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/sir-james-cameron-1.816106|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-date=21 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621212632/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/sir-james-cameron-1.816106|url-status=live}}
• 1984–1990: John Marks{{cite news|date=30 May 2013|title=Birthday's today|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-30.html | url-access = subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530160907/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-30.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2013|access-date=28 May 2014|quote=Dr John Marks, Chairman, British Medical Association, 1984–90, is 88}}
• 1990–1993: Jeremy Lee-Potter{{cite journal|last=Beecham|first=Linda|date=28 January 1995|title=Former BMA chairman leaves NHS|journal=BMJ|volume=310|issue=264|page=264|doi=10.1136/bmj.310.6974.264|s2cid=71198800}}
• 1993–1998: Sandy MacAra{{cite news|last=Obituary|date=28 June 2012|title=Sir Sandy Macara|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9363152/Sir-Sandy-Macara.html | url-access = subscription |access-date=26 April 2014|archive-date=28 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628231136/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9363152/Sir-Sandy-Macara.html|url-status=live}}
• 1998–2003: Ian Bogle{{cite journal|date=18 July 1998|title=A new chairman for the BMA|journal=BMJ|volume=317|issue=7152|page=166|doi=10.1136/bmj.317.7152.166|s2cid=220205207}}{{cite journal|last=Gould|first=Mark|date=10 July 2003|title=Moving to the moral high ground|journal=BMJ|volume=327|issue=7406|page=72|doi=10.1136/bmj.327.7406.72|pmc=1126449|pmid=12858476}}
• 2003–2007: James Johnson{{cite news|date=19 November 2010|title=BMA ex-chief failed in post-op care of some patients|newspaper=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11795637|access-date=26 April 2014|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925171312/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11795637|url-status=live}}
• 2007–2012 Hamish Meldrum{{cite web | last=Soteriou | first=Marina | title=GP stands against consultants to become next BMA chairman | website=GPonline | date=11 June 2012 | url=https://www.gponline.com/gp-stands-against-consultants-become-next%E2%80%93bma%E2%80%93chairman/article/1135787 | access-date=19 July 2023 | archive-date=4 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104044258/https://www.gponline.com/gp-stands-against-consultants-become-next-bma-chairman/article/1135787 | url-status=live }}
• 2012–2017: Mark Porter{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Denis|date=28 June 2012|title=Dr Mark Porter, NHS champion, voted new head of British Medical Association|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jun/28/dr–mark-porter-new-head-british-medical-association|access-date=26 April 2014}}
• 2017–2022: Chaand Nagpaul{{cite web|title=BMA – Dr Chaand Nagpaul confirmed as new BMA council chair|url=https://www.bma.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/2017/june/dr-chaand-nagpaul-confirmed-as-new-bma-council-chair|access-date=19 October 2017|website=Bma.org.uk|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019112418/https://www.bma.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/2017/june/dr-chaand-nagpaul-confirmed-as-new-bma-council-chair|url-status=live}}
• 2022–present: Philip Banfield{{cite web|url=https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-elects-new-chair-of-council|title=BMA elects new Chair of Council – BMA media centre|access-date=1 August 2022|archive-date=20 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820030757/https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-elects-new-chair-of-council|url-status=live}}

In 2019, the BMA faced criticism after two leading general practitioners blew the whistle on sexism and harassment in the organisation.{{Cite news|last=Smyth|first=Chris|date=3 April 2019|title=GPs quit union amid anger at 70s-style sexism|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/gps-quit-union-amid-anger-at-70s-style-sexism-pfw2pjvsr | url-access = subscription |access-date=3 March 2020|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303180641/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gps-quit-union-amid-anger-at-70s-style-sexism-pfw2pjvsr|url-status=live}} Following the independent Romney review which described the BMA as an "old boys club" that undervalued women, the BMA apologised to female doctors.{{Cite journal|last=Rimmer|first=Abi|date=17 October 2019|title='Old boys club' culture at BMA undermined female members and staff, sexism report finds|journal=BMJ|volume=367|page=l6089|doi=10.1136/bmj.l6089|pmid=31624101|s2cid=204773706|issn=0959-8138}}

In 2024, the BMA was criticised by key medical figures for disavowing the final report of The Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People (commonly, Cass Review), which was accepted by the last government and its Labour party successor. The situation led to a split within the organisation, and resignations by long time members.{{Cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Denis |last2=editor |first2=Denis Campbell Health policy |date=2024-08-29 |title='Witch-hunt': BMA tries to identify who leaked planned opposition to Cass review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/29/witch-hunt-bma-tries-to-identify-who-leaked-planned-opposition-to-cass-review |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |date=2024-08-26 |title=Doctors resign from BMA over union's opposition to Cass review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/26/doctors-resign-bma-opposition-cass-review-puberty-blockers/ | url-access = subscription |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web |last1=Hayward |first1=Eleanor|date=2024-08-26 |title=BMA members resign in revolt over transgender children stance |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/bma-members-resign-in-revolt-over-transgender-children-stance-nvqd0vgv5 | url-access = subscription |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=The Times}} Two months later, they announced that the organization had adopted "a neutral position on the Cass Review" and its recommendations.{{Cite web |date=27 September 2024 |title=BMA takes 'neutral position' on gender review |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20pn0164ypo |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=BBC News}}

{{See also|Sialkot#Industry}}

The BMA's Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group (MFETG) was established in 2007 and works to "investigate, promote and facilitate fair end ethical trade" in relation to medical commodities. The group has worked with Swedish-based NGO Swedwatch to investigate and report on supply chain concerns, particularly looking at working conditions in the production of surgical instruments in Sialkot in Pakistan.BMA, [https://www.bma.org.uk/media/1095/po-healthierprocurement_bma-10-04-2015-1.pdf Healthier Procurement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916081027/https://www.bma.org.uk/media/1095/po-healthierprocurement_bma-10-04-2015-1.pdf |date=16 September 2021 }}, published jointly with Swedwatch, 19 March 2015, accessed 1 January 2021

The BMA makes grants to doctors for research and other reasons. Details of all the awards and grants offered by The BMA are available on their website.{{cite web|url=http://www.bma.org.uk/about_bma/awards_grants/index.jsp|title=BMA Awards and Grants|website=Bma.org.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219062646/http://www.bma.org.uk/about_bma/awards_grants/index.jsp|archive-date=19 December 2011}} However, the top three are listed here:

• Claire Wand Fund {{ndash}} a charitable fund, administered by The BMA, that makes grants to fund the further education of medical practitioners predominantly engaged in general practice.
• Humanitarian Fund {{ndash}} the BMA International Department runs the BMA Humanitarian Fund which offers grants of up to £3,000 for projects taking place in developing countries.{{cite web|first=Arthy|last=Santhakumar|url=https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/doctors-as-volunteers-forum/b/blog/posts/bma-humanitarian-fund-2017|title=BMA Humanitarian Fund 2017|website=Bma.org.uk|date=6 April 2017|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911024554/https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/doctors-as-volunteers-forum/b/blog/posts/bma-humanitarian-fund-2017|url-status=live}}
• BMA Research Grants {{ndash}} the BMA awards ten grants totalling £500,000 annually. All grants are for research in progress or prospective research and cover a diversity of research areas.{{cite web|url=http://bma.org.uk/developing-your-career/portfolio-career/research-grants|title=BMA Research grants|website=Bma.org.uk|date=2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419213830/http://www.bma.org.uk/developing-your-career/portfolio-career/research-grants|archive-date=19 April 2016}}

The logo of the BMA includes a stylised version of the rod of Asclepius, associated with Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. It was designed by John Lloyd (graphic designer) and Martin Skeet of the British design consultancy, Lloyd Northover.

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = British Medical Association Escutcheon.png

|escutcheon = Per pale Or and Azure a maunch counterchanged on a chief of the first a lion passant also Azure.

|crest = On a wreath of the colours in front of two torches in saltire Azure enflamed Proper a rod of Aesculapius Or.

|supporters = On the dexter side a figure representing Hippocrates holding in his exterior hand a pomegranate Proper and on the sinister side a figure representing William Harvey physician also Proper holding in his exterior hand an annulet per fesse Gules and Azure.

|motto = With Head And Heart And Hand

|notes = Granted 25 May 1955{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/British_Medical_Association |title=British Medical Association |publisher=Heraldry of the World |accessdate=18 February 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122020633/http://heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/British_Medical_Association |url-status=live }}}}

• The BMA Medical Book awards are announced annually. There are awards in 20 subject categories (from "Anaesthesia" to "Surgical Specialities"); special category awards including "Illustrated book", "Student textbook", "Young author"; and an overall "Medical Book of the Year".{{cite web |title=Medical Book Awards |url=https://www.bma.org.uk/library/medical-book-awards |publisher=BMA |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404235359/https://www.bma.org.uk/library/medical-book-awards |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Medical book awards winners |url=https://www.bma.org.uk/library/medical-book-awards/winners |publisher=BMA |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405024244/https://www.bma.org.uk/library/medical-book-awards/winners |url-status=live }}
• The Association Medal is awarded to members for "outstanding and sustained services" to the BMA at national level
• Fellowship of the Association is awarded for "distinguished and notable" services to the BMA and the profession
• The Gold Medal is awarded to those who have "conspicuously raised the character of the medical profession".{{cite web |url=https://www.bma.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/awards-and-honours |title=BMA Awards and honours |author= |date=25 November 2019 |website=www.bma.org.uk |publisher=BMA |access-date=28 February 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730023412/https://www.bma.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/awards-and-honours |url-status=live }} The medal was instituted in 1877 at the association's annual meeting in Manchester.{{cite journal |author= |date=29 July 1922 |title=The Gold Medal of the British Medical Association |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/2/3213/171 |journal=British Medical Journal |volume=2 |issue=3213 |pages=171–173 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.3213.171 |pmid=20770820 |pmc=2416513 |s2cid=41757269 |access-date=28 February 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228202201/https://www.bmj.com/content/2/3213/171 |url-status=live }}

• World Medical Association
• The Doctors' Association UK
• British International Doctors Association

{{Reflist}}

• Jones, P. R.   "An economic analysis of collective behaviour: The case of the British Medical Association" (PhD Dissertation.University of Leicester ; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,  1976. U418520).

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://bmahouse.org.uk/ BMA House website]

{{Authority control}}

Category:1832 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Trade unions in the United Kingdom

Category:Medical associations based in the United Kingdom

Category:Medical and health organisations based in London

Category:Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden

Category:Organizations established in 1832