UK doctors have been instructed to inquire about pregnancy in men during medical assessments, a move aimed at ensuring comprehensive care for transgender and non-binary patients. The directive has sparked debate and discussion on medical practices and inclusivity.
Doctors conducting X-ray, CT and MRI scans in Britain have been advised by health authorities to inquire about pregnancy status among male patients.
The Society of Radiographers (SoR) created the “inclusive guidelines for ionizing radiation during pregnancy status” in light of an occurrence reported by The Telegraph. A transgender man underwent a CT scan while pregnant, prompting concerns about exposing fetuses to harmful X-ray and MRI radiations, leading to the development of these guidelines.
Healthcare professionals have been instructed to avoid presuming the gender identity of patients during procedures and questioning individuals from 12 to 55 concerning pregnancy, which encompasses transgender, non-binary, intersex people as well as men.
As per the new instructions, patients are required to complete a questionnaire comprising inquiries such as their gender assigned at birth and reproductive health status. Some X-ray experts who chose to remain anonymous informed The Telegraph that numerous patients find these queries “intrusive.” Multiple medical professionals assert men display greater discontent regarding form completion, reacting with fury when it’s implied that their sex isn’t apparent enough for clarification purposes.
The guidance has sparked controversy due to its request for patients’ preferred pronouns. There have been reports of parents being angered by their underage children being asked about their name and pronoun preferences, causing confusion. Additionally, a doctor shared that one patient experienced self-doubt regarding their gender identity after completing the form.
According to certain physicians and advocates for human rights, the recently imposed regulations are deemed as “embarrassing” towards individuals seeking medical attention. They have furthermore implored the NHS administration to abandon this practice in favor of a more rational approach.
Dr. Louise Irvine stated to the news outlet that there is no point in asking males if they could be pregnant since it’s biologically impossible for them. She also mentioned how the proposed radiography guidelines introduce confusion by considering intersex conditions.
According to Fiona McAnena, the head of campaigns at Sex Matters charity, including The Society of Radiographers’ inclusion policy can be seen as a poor demonstration of professional organizations disregarding factual evidence in favor of ideology. She added that making healthcare workers and male patients go through such an embarrassing ordeal is not only unacceptable but also a colossal waste of time.
The report did not provide definitive information on the extent of adoption of the new guidelines by medical institutions in the UK. However, it was noted that several hospitals situated in cities like London had begun implementing inquiry forms aligned with these updated guidelines.
