A former student is suing a medical school in the United States, alleging that he was kicked out because of his pro-life views. Michael Robinson, SPUC Director of Communications, said: “If what the student alleges is true, then the abusive and discriminatory behaviour he was subject to, including his unfair dismissal, is a disgrace that is indicative of a broader free speech crisis.”

Austin Clark, a father of two, has filed a lawsuit against the University of Louisville Medical School (ULSOM) after he was expelled in July 2020.

The suit claims that Clark faced discrimination and abuse from medical school staff, including a failing grade for a medical exam, despite having “objectively” passed the test based on his score.

Clark has also reported several confrontations with faculty members over his pro-life views.

On one occasion, the lawsuit states, an instructor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology called Clark “stupid” and questioned how his “brain was working”.

Such was the instructor’s antipathy towards Clark, he required the student to sit on a chair in a hallway outside his office during meetings.

Such hostility appears to have had its roots in Clark’s decision to invite a pro-life advocate to speak at campus in 2019.

Ultimately, it is said that the medical school requested that Clark sign an agreement guaranteeing his professionalism, or face dismissal or medical leave.

As a result of the medical school’s treatment of him, Clark says that he became depressed.

“They are saying I was being unprofessional, but all I’ve done is to be a vocal pro-life student, standing up to bullies”, Clark said in a statement.

Clark was finally dismissed by the school’s Student Promotions committee last year. He now seeks to be reinstated by the university.

“Worrying” hostility towards pro-life students

SPUC’s Michael Robinson said: “What is especially worrying here is that such bigotry has occurred at a university, the very place where individuals should be free to share their ideas and debate them freely.

“It is vital that pro-life students are protected from such censorship and afforded the same rights and freedoms as any other student, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“But free expression is increasingly under threat in the West, especially on university campuses, which are becoming more and more hostile towards pro-lifers.

“As a recent study found, one in four pro-life students in the UK say that they have been ‘threatened, abused, alarmed or distressed’ for their anti-abortion views, as reported by SPUC.

“It is vital that steps are taken to ensure that pro-life students are not silenced and can speak out about pro-life issues.”