LGBT Healthcare

A study on the current needs of the LGBT community by the AMA Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation was just released.

Needs of gay, transgender patients not adequately addressed, report says
By Jessica Zigmond
Posted: May 13, 2009 - 3:45 pm EDT

The healthcare industry is not adequately addressing the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender patients, says an annual report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. Released for the third year in a row, the Healthcare Equality Index is a national report that sets benchmarks and highlights best practices and healthcare facility policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
…
According to the findings, less than 7% of facilities reporting protect patients from discrimination based on gender identity, while about 73% of participants protect these patients from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Meanwhile, 98% of the participating facilities bar employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 63% of those policies include “gender identity or expression” or “gender identity.” Cultural-competency training was more aligned, as 72% of participating facilities provide cultural-competency training addressing sexual orientation and healthcare issues relevant to the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, while about 70% of participating facilities provide cultural-competency training addressing gender identity and healthcare issues relevant to the transgender community.

I find it is very troubling that only 7% of the facilities have gender inclusive anti-discrimination policies. The trans-community horrible life threatening discrimination. A friend and a member of the support group told the group that she slipped on some ice and was taken to the emergency room. This is what she had to say about the incident.

"S" [Note: I deleted her name and will call her "S"] has worked as a truck driver for 27 years in _____, CT. She pays her bills, cares for her kids, and has been a trusted and capable employee …..Yet, as a transgender person, she has lived in fear that she will not have the same basic care and protections against discrimination that other Connecticut citizens have. In January, her fears became reality.

On January 30, 2009, "S" fell on the ice at work at 1:30 in the morning. She couldn't stand and was in horrible pain, but was able to call 911. The paramedics arrived in four minutes. After assessing her condition, they recognized the need to get "S" to a hospital as soon as possible. Yet, when you are transgender, even in the condition "S" was in, going to the hospital is not that easy of a decision.

At the hospital, she was attended to by three medical staff people. They began treating her by cutting off her clothes. "S" was frightened, cold, alone, and in desperate pain. Then….they stopped. And walked away.

Having learned she was a transgender person, they left her lying alone on a table for two long hours without any medication or care. At one point one of the doctors said to the other, "you deal with `it;' I'm not dealing with `it.'

The "it" was a human being: "S". Both doctors left the room, and the nurses told "S" to "start walking." They threw off her bed covers, then left the room for 45 minutes.

X-rays ultimately revealed a fractured vertebrae, but the hospital still released "S". She was told to have her primary doctor evaluate her further with a CT scan, MRI, and more x-rays. She was told to find a ride home.

Finally, "S" was fully evaluated at another local hospital. Her diagnosis: three fractured vertebrae, two crushed vertebrae, and one fractured rib.

Since then, "S" has had severe chest and back pain and months of physical therapy, while missing over six weeks of work.

She pursued a complaint against the hospital medical staff. An investigation was done, and the hospital confirmed the appalling and callous denial of care by their emergency staff. All people involved in "S"'s mistreatment will receive training.

Healthcare Equality Index http://www.hrc.org/HEI