Doctors are now being taught not to discriminate against trans patients.

[Mirrabooka]

It's sad that it is even an issue, but it happens. Patients are denying themselves healthcare because of it. At least there are attempts being made to educate the next generation of doctors now, so hopefully, it won't be a thing one day:

Discrimination and a lack of education making it hard for transgender people to access quality healthcare - ABC News

[Birdie]

11 minutes ago, Mirrabooka said:

It's sad that it is even an issue, but it happens. Patients are denying themselves healthcare because of it. At least there are attempts being made to educate the next generation of doctors now, so hopefully, it won't be a thing one day:

Discrimination and a lack of education making it hard for transgender people to access quality healthcare - ABC News

Yeah, my elderly doctor is quite "old school", and stated straight out that he believes in "assignment at birth" only.

He Doesn't mind working around my bra or blouses, but won't put his "name" on any form of letter for the courts. If that's what I desire, I would need to change health plans. Unfortunately I have the best plan in Texas when it comes to coverage. 😐

[AllieJ]

This is hardly surprising given that there is no formal qualification in Trans medicine, and most of the texts available are decades out of date. The RACGP has only recently fallen in line with world authorities in changing trans from a mental disorder to a biological condition. Most hormone providers still base their treatments on the debunked Womens Health Initiative report which used synthetic hormones in its studies. The American Psychiatric Association which authors the DSM hung on to the designation  of Trans as a mental disorder well past the changes in other organisations, and they cited retention of funding as the reason. 

 

The majority of the planet, including medical staff who have not had recent training updates, believe we suffer from mental illness. This is why we are targets of the right wingers, and why there is discriminations and misinformed treatment common in our systems. My WPATH registered psychologist believed they could diagnose me as transgender, and was in disbelief when I referred her to new standards. My GRS surgeon made me stop hormones a month before and during the perioperative period, in contradiction to modern practice. These are providers registered with WPATH, and you would expect that they were up with modern training, but the system is simply not in place to bring these providers up to speed. 

 

Trans seems to dominate politics around the globe, but the research, developments , and training are almost non existent. Almost all of the medications we use are off label, ie, have never been tested and passed for trans medicine. Nobody has any idea how many trans people there are in the world or individual countries, so there is no data to justify adequate resources. This means we have to be our own advocates in society and medicine. We need to be across the latest developments, and educate others. I am fortunate to have a doctor who realises this and has asked me to provide him with updated knowledge to allow him to develop his practice. Where there is no data for our needs, we try to formulate methods with controlled trials.

 

I did hope I could engage a provider with this knowledge already, but it is just not available. The dangerous thing is the number of doctor who believe they know all about hormone therapy, but have no specific knowledge or training. Our way forward is not being generated by the medical systems, so for our own well being, we need to push for it.

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[Birdie]

I feel really bad for those of you that rely on the medical system for HRT and other care. The system is stacked against you. 😐

 

"Be careful who you see" I guess is the best advice. 

I am lucky in that I don't need medical intervention, but legal challenges in the changing of my gender I have completely given up hope on. 😐

 

Birdie💖

[Charlize]

I have been fortunate to have medical care in a very supportive part of the country.  I've never had a major issue for many years although some time ago it seemed different.  One doctor said: " i'll take care of anybody".  Giggles were heard on occasion.  Recently i have wonderful conversations about the pride parade or have noticed pride flags in reception.  

There are certainly efforts being made to make us feel accepted.  Hopefully that will allow folks to get help when they need it.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[KathyLauren]

With health care being in the state it is in here in Nova Scotia, I am lucky to have a doctor at all.  Luckier still to have one that is accepting and is willing to prescribe my hormones.  She has no training in trans health care even though one of the universities in Halifax offers upgrade courses for doctors wanting WPATH certification.  (The waiting list for doctors is about 15% of the total population, and that's not counting those who have given up.)

 

My doctor has given hints that she may retire - she has already cut back her work week - and I don't know what I will do then.  I would have to accept whatever doctor is accepting patients and hope they are not some male right-wing creep.  I guess in that case, I would have to go back to the sexual health centre in the city where I started my HRT and whose prescription my doctor continued for me.

[Carolyn Marie]

Both @VickySGVand I have given a short form "Trans 101" training to medical students at the major university here, and have been well received.  The medical school's leaders actually sought out LGBT activists to provide the training.  But what specific things they learn, or don't learn about treating us is opaque.  Whether or not other local medical schools do the same outreach is unknown.  I also did training for a local nursing school, but wasn't invited back.

 

Even here in So. Cal things can be difficult.  My endo, who was doing a good job treating my diabetes, refused to provide HRT after I came out, and it took weeks to find another.  That doctor had never treated a trans patient before.  I had to educate her, but to her credit, she also read up on it and is doing a good job for me.

 

I feel especially bad for post op trans men, who still require the services of an OB-GYN  from time to time, and many are uncomfortable or outright refuse to treat them.  That can be deadly.  So there is a very long way to go, and in the states where it's becoming illegal to offer HRT, doctors won't get the training at all.

 

In some cases, we are being legislated to death.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Davie]

3 hours ago, Carolyn Marie said:

oth @VickySGVand I have given a short form "Trans 101" training to medical students at the major university here, and have been well received.  The medical school's leaders actually sought out LGBT activists to provide the training.  But what specific things they learn, or don't learn about treating us is opaque.  Whether or not other local medical schools do the same outreach is unknown.  I also did training for a local nursing school, but wasn't invited back.

Thank you so much for your service, @VickySGVand @Carolyn Marie. Teaching is love.

[Ivy]

5 hours ago, Carolyn Marie said:

in the states where it's becoming illegal to offer HRT, doctors won't get the training at all.

I have seen efforts in some red states to actually outlaw the training in medical schools.  These people……

[Vidanjali]

I recently went to a new physician. On the intake form, I got to a page which contained two headings with options to select:

 

gender

straight 

gay

bisexual 

other ____

 

and

 

sexual orientation

cisgender 

transgender mtf

transgender ftm

genderqueer

other ____

 

I made my selections (both of which were "other") and drew criss-cross arrows to indicate the headings should be reversed. (I considered writing a further suggestion that they might ask how the patient wishes to be addressed, but did not.) Then, they called me in, "Mrs. V?" Sigh. They tried? I've not yet encountered a physician's office which asks for your gender ID and then actually reads your answer and follows through with correct gendering, etc. 

 

[AllieJ]

46 minutes ago, Vidanjali said:

I recently went to a new physician. On the intake form, I got to a page which contained two headings with options to select:

 

gender

straight 

gay

bisexual 

other ____

 

and

 

sexual orientation

cisgender 

transgender mtf

transgender ftm

genderqueer

other ____

 

I made my selections (both of which were "other") and drew criss-cross arrows to indicate the headings should be reversed. (I considered writing a further suggestion that they might ask how the patient wishes to be addressed, but did not.) Then, they called me in, "Mrs. V?" Sigh. They tried? I've not yet encountered a physician's office which asks for your gender ID and then actually reads your answer and follows through with correct gendering, etc. 

 

D'oh! This demonstrated the critical lack of knowledge in medical providers. It also reinforces the confusion between sex and gender to their patients. I would have made sure they were aware of their blunder. While I don't reveal these details to non medical providers, those who are responsible for my health need to have these details correct as it affects the treatments they provide me. 

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[Betty K]

On 6/25/2023 at 10:22 PM, AllieJ said:

I am fortunate to have a doctor who realises this and has asked me to provide him with updated knowledge to allow him to develop his practice.

I am in the same position, though my doctor is female. But she is humble, supportive, and open to being educated. 

 

Astonishingly, when I saw a so-called specialist in trans health early in my journey, she told me that I wasn’t dysphoric enough to qualify for care and used outmoded and gatekeeperish language to justify her view. I far prefer my GP.

[AllieJ]

2 minutes ago, Betty K said:

I am in the same position, though my doctor is female. But she is humble, supportive, and open to being educated. 

 

Astonishingly, when I saw a so-called specialist in trans health early in my journey, she told me that I wasn’t dysphoric enough to qualify for care and used outmoded and gatekeeperish language to justify her view. I far prefer my GP.

Betty, unfortunately there are a lot of so called "trans specialists" who haven't updated their knowledge for over a decade and they are still operating as if trans is a mental disorder. They also base treatment on old data from synthetic hormones, and by insisting on very low levels, they actually harm their patients and this is why the suicide attempt rate hasn't improved in 50 years. Even worse, some of these quacks are advising WPATD and the Endocrine society.

 

We need to learn about adequate care and insist on it, or change doctors. And let others know who the bad providers are as they feed on new people to the community.

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[Mirrabooka]

16 minutes ago, AllieJ said:

Betty, unfortunately there are a lot of so called "trans specialists" who haven't updated their knowledge for over a decade and they are still operating as if trans is a mental disorder.

But surely, a doctor (whether they are a trans specialist or not) doesn't need 'updated knowledge' or training to know that it is just plain silly to link transness with general medical conditions that affect everybody, as the article alluded to?

[MaybeRob]

Years ago I went to a GP near here about severe pain and a solid lump on the chest. After 3 visits and a xray the doctor told me I have a lump on my chest causing the pain. After telling him I knew this I asked him what next. He wanted to refer me specialist, but as he didn't know what the lump was it may take a few referrals to identify it. 

 

I went to a CBD doctor who looked at the xray and threw it away, it was poor quality and sent me to St Vinnies for numerus bone scan. Turns out I have arthritis on the joint of the collar bones.

 

My point is Doctors can be good or bad at their job.

 

Hugs

 

MaybeRob

 

[AllieJ]

6 minutes ago, Mirrabooka said:

But surely, a doctor (whether they are a trans specialist or not) doesn't need 'updated knowledge' or training to know that it is just plain silly to link transness with general medical conditions that affect everybody, as the article alluded to?

Mirabooka, Yes, their general level of knowledge is poor, so doctors out of their depth might try to involve what is unknown to them, ie relating a headache to 'transness'. So many doctors still refer to DSM-4. and it has only been in the past couple of years that the RACGP updated their description of trans, but many doctors aren't up with the changes and assume many of our symptoms are related to our 'mental illness'. My first endocrinologist wouldn't prescribe hormones unless he got a letter from my psychologist before every appointment! And then, he based his treatment on the schedules for Synthetic hormones (Premarin). The result was my dysphoria going into overdrive and putting me in a deep enough depression that my psychologist wrote to him to tell him his treatment was killing me. He was a WPATH and AUSPATH member, but had no real understanding of transgender.

 

Trans medicine is quite specialised, and outdated treatments kill too many of us.

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[Birdie]

My doctor here in "Texas" referred me to a psychiatrist. That psychiatrist went about preparing to treat me for my "gender dysphoria" by getting me to accept the "assigned gender at birth". 

I informed the elderly lady that I am intersex and also have a uterus just like her, and even though I am not assigned female I have quite a bit of claim in claiming it. 

Needless to say I only saw her twice. 😉

 

There are some really backwards doctors still practicing medicine out there. 🙄

[Mychal]

45 minutes ago, Mirrabooka said:

But surely, a doctor (whether they are a trans specialist or not) doesn't need 'updated knowledge' or training to know that it is just plain silly to link transness with general medical conditions that affect everybody, as the article alluded to?

Mirrabooka, unfortunately (here in the US), religion plays too much of a part in the conservative section of the country. The level of knowledge becomes calcified at the personal comfort of those who should know better. With the anti-LGTBQ laws being passed in the conservative states here, many sympathetic doctors are leaving those states because they can be brought up on criminal charges for some basic women's health care. Mychal/Joni💋

[Betty K]

1 hour ago, AllieJ said:

And let others know who the bad providers are as they feed on new people to the community.

 

Oh don't worry, I have been letting people know. I also wrote a letter of complaint. I agree, this "specialist" seemed many years out of date. And I have since heard from others that they had similar negative experiences with her.

[Birdie]

5 minutes ago, Mychal said:

much of a part in the conservative section of the country. The level of knowledge becomes calcified at the personal comfort of those who should know better. With the anti-LGTBQ laws being passed in the conservative states here

👍 that is exactly the problem here!

[Ivy]

2 hours ago, Mychal said:

With the anti-LGTBQ laws being passed in the conservative states here, many sympathetic doctors are leaving those states because they can be brought up on criminal charges for some basic women's health care.

This is all so insane.

What does it matter to my neighbor down the road what goes on between my Dr and me anyway?  

What are they going to do once they've run off the doctors?  Stupid jerks.

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Carolyn Marie
Word changed per Community Rule #11