I met the LGBT Rep at my VA and she is helping me change my Primary care doctor

[KathrynJulia]

This week I was at the John Cochran VA Hospital in St Louis seeing one of my doctors and then decided to buy lunch. I stepped out of the elevator and the LGBT Rep was set up at a table in front of the elevator.  Well she zeroed in on me and we began talking.  She asked me about my care and I related to her my dissatisfaction with my Primary Care Doctor.  She deliberately mis-genders me repeatedly.  Gives me second rate care. 

And how I had asked for a change in doctors and nothing had been done about it.   I had a letter from my disability insurance company on my disabilities from my two strokes.  She didn't want to fill it out.  I told her the difficulty level of the form was so easy even nurses could fill it out..  She filled it out describing me as a 62 year old female,then everything became he, he,he both on the form and in my chart.  A week later I got a call from Cigna  who were confused about my gender.  I had to out myself as transgender with a transphobic doctor.  After that call I exploded.  I called up my chart and saw what she had done. 

I wrote her a letter explaining what I had discovered and informing her that the misgendering stops now.  I was not going to put up with it anymore.

Running into the LGBT REP at John Cochrane VA Hospital was a real find.  I'm also being referred to  an LGBT friendly doctor who isn't afraid to catch cooties from me if she touches me, will be nice.  She gave me a copy of the VA's rules on LGBT patients and the Standards of Care.  She definitely was upset that I was having to put up with a definitely unfriendly doctor.

Kathryn

[MarcieMarie12]

Glad you spoke up and got a different doctor! I myself just put in for a complaint to Kaiser over the messthat is my referral for surgeyr that is less than a month away. On hteo ne hand it is something to focus on, on the other hand it is one more stress I did not want to have to deal with. 

[Carolyn Marie]

KJ, its awful that you had to go through all that first, but at least you now have an ally, which is invaluable.  I'm impressed that the VA has such a position.  Please let us know how things turn out, and best wishes!

HUGS

Carolyn Marie