Medical Act 1876

The Medical Act 1876^[1] (39 & 40 Vict. c. 41) or the Enabling Act 1876 was an act which repealed the previous Medical Act in the United Kingdom and allowed all British medical authorities to license all qualified applicants whatever their gender.^[2][3][4] It was introduced by Member of Parliament Russell Gurney.^[5] The act obtained royal assent and became law despite Queen Victoria's strong private objections to women's medical training.^[3]

Medical Act 1876^[1]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to remove Restrictions on the granting of Qualifications for Registration under the Medical Act on the ground of Sex.
Citation	39 & 40 Vict. c. 41
Dates
Royal assent	11 August 1876
Commencement	11 August 1876
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Medical Acts was the collective title of the Medical Act 1876 as well as the following Acts:^[6]

• Medical Act 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. c. 90)
• Medical Act 1859 (22 Vict. c. 21)
• Medical Acts Amendment Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. 7)
• Medical Practitioners Act 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 40)
• Medical Act 1886 (49 & 50 Vict. c. 48)