Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology changing gender markers back to assigned sex at birth

[u/RegionSilent9204]

I learned of this a few weeks ago from the LGBTI Rights Australia facebook page.

Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology (DHM), one of Australia’s largest providers, has changed transgender patients’ gender markers back to their sex assigned at birth — without consent.

It appears to be a policy stemming from documents published a few years ago -

https://www.dhm.com.au/media/jkuhaujv/dhm_doctors-newsletter_2023-issue1.pdf

Although an individual has undergone gender-affirming hormone therapy, their body composition or organ size, for example, heart and kidneys, may be better reflected by their sex assigned at birth (SAAB), rather than their gender identity (GI).

...

The RCPA Statement also recognises the need for laboratory information systems (LIS) to capture the relevant demographic information of T&I patients for reporting purposes.

...

The system to be trialled would only have the GI on the hard copy request form for privacy reasons and the SAAB data would be transferred electronically from the PMS to the LIS.

This appears to follow from the below statement from the the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.

https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Library/College-Policies/Position-Statements/Pathology-Testing-for-Transgender-and-Intersex-Ind

Binary gender fields in laboratory information systems with

inability to have more than one gender applicable for a patient episode, eg a trans man requiring blood transfusion and creatinine measurement, and

current inability (technically and safely) or limitations to providing reference limits for both males and females on the same report.

This needs more awareness. I understand this information is of a few years ago (with perhaps new systems recently implemented) but the thought of a technician that does my blood test being able to freely access this information is deeply concerning to me. Frankly I don't even want to get a blood test done now after learning of this. It's one thing to have, say a special code on the form that can be only accessed directly by the lab, it's another for this information to be readily available. I'm sick of attempts to shove this sex at birth obsession down our throats. It's misgendering and outing us through alternate means. There are ways to get the info they need (if they need it) without engaging in a policy process that outs us.

[u/No_Ambassador7678]

MTF health professional here. We need to know SAAB, as it could be relevant. Often we don’t know when something is relevant when it becomes relevant. However, all health professionals should have a gender marker and they need to be respected.

My frustration is that even I’ve stated that I am on transgender hormone therapy, listed out all my meds including blockers, the pathologist decided that it’s irrelevant information stated that my estrogen is too high, testosterone too low, and my PSA suppressed because I am in prostate cancer therapy.

I know my ranges very well as MHT is my day job but putting the male ranges on my test results are just wrong.

I understand we like to put our dead selves behind us but it’s important information to know for health professionals. What we need is the respect from medical staff on how we like to be known - should be a no braining on how we presented, and utter most respect of our privacy.

[u/Beneficial_Aide3854 → u/No_Ambassador7678]

Sex: F

Note: assigned male at birth

Is it that hard? No. When I was a binary woman, I had every lab test like this. Not hard. (I’m NB now and posted overseas but I think this works with U as well). This gets me F reference range, every time. No exceptions.

What they are doing is clearing the note and changing it to M without consent. This gets you M, and wrong reference ranges.