From The Montreal Gazette: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Transgender+patients+outed+health+care+system/5854368/story.html
‘I will die of pneumonia before being called Mr. once more in the emergency room’
By Max Harrold, THE GAZETTE
December 13, 2011
MONTREAL – For most sick people in a doctor’s waiting room, a walk-in clinic or the hospital emergency, the etiquette of the receptionist, nurse and doctor is not likely the top priority. Getting better is.
But for people in the years-long process of transitioning genders, the name called out and the pronouns used can be the difference between medical treatment and psychological torture.
Many Quebec health-care workers routinely out transsexuals by arguing in public about their name and sex as indicated on the medicare card, advocates for trans people say.
Transphobia – prejudice and hostility toward people who don’t fit standard gender images – is widespread, they add.
Gabrielle Bouchard, a coordinator at the 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy in Montreal, said it’s exhausting to repeatedly argue about gender and one’s name regarding a mortgage or when applying for a job – but it can be especially hurtful while trying to obtain publicly funded medical services.
A trans person may not look much like the photo on their ID.
“I hear this story over and over – people saying, ‘I will die of pneumonia before being called Mr. once more in the emergency room’ or ‘I will not go to get this blood test because I’m not sure I will be treated respectfully’ or ‘I’m not going to get medication at the pharmacy because the pharmacist will say out loud: Well your name is Mr.; why are you coming to pick these pills up?’
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Transgender+patients+outed+health+care+system/5854368/story.html
Women Born Transsexual 