Can someone tell me what "not providing gender affirming care" at Catholic hospitals means?

[Anonymous]

I see this announcement from the Catholic church, and am wondering how it impacts my young teenage trans kid.

The closest hospital to my house, the one we'd naturally use for something like an accident or a sudden illness, and where the ambulance would take him in an emergency, is Catholic. We haven't used them, or even considered them for anything related to gender. He goes to other providers, specifically chosen because of their expertise in trans health, for anything that is remotely related to gender, such as therapy, his pediatrician, a gynecologist for continuous birth control to stop periods. Some of the providers we use are at Children's, and my guess is if he ever needed a planned admission (e.g. for a planned surgery) we'd go there.

Right now, he's on an SSRI that helps him with gender dysphoria, and on birth control so he doesn't hav a period. He's not on hormone blockers, or cross-sex hormones. His medical team also "affirms" his gender by using his preferred name, and pronouns when talking to him.

If he were to be hospitalized through an ER admission would they continue his birth control, and use his name and pronouns? Or are those considered gender affirming? Or are they just publicly stating that they aren't doing things that, as I understand it, they haven't ever done, such as prescribing blockers or hormones for outpatients, or doing surgery?

Note: I find this announcement troubling, but just trying to figure out how it impacts him if we need to make a decision in the moment?

[Anonymous]

If being misgendered would be troubling to you or your child, I would familiarize yourself with the route to a different hospital.

Presumably in a true life-or-death, minutes count sort of emergency, misgendering or missed doses of the pill would not be a concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If being misgendered would be troubling to you or your child, I would familiarize yourself with the route to a different hospital.

Presumably in a true life-or-death, minutes count sort of emergency, misgendering or missed doses of the pill would not be a concern.

Yes. This should be your last concern if there is a true emergency. Otherwise go to the hospital you prefer.

I find it troubling to force religious people to accommodate beliefs they find untrue, so I guess we are even.

[Anonymous]

It probably depends on the hospital. I recently left a Catholic hospital and was there for 10 years (I'm not Catholic and neither were a large majority of my coworkers). At my hospital, we turned a blind eye to patients taking birth control (assuming it wasn't contraindicated with what was going on). It couldn't be prescribed. If we had a patient who was trans, they had a private room to ensure there were no issues with mixed genders in rooms/bathrooms. They were called their pronouns of choice. They will use their legal name on hospital records but will put down his preferred name. Doesn't mean he will always be called it.

[Anonymous]

I would avoid a Catholic hospital. That said - you can always give your child their birth control yourself even if they are hospitalized. I wouldn’t worry about that.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, OP. I don’t know the answer to your question but I wanted to let you know that it’s terrible that you have to think like this in the context of medical emergencies. It reminds me of my grandparents talking about planning their travel routes through the United States in order to avoid some pretty horrific situations. No one should be forced to live like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If being misgendered would be troubling to you or your child, I would familiarize yourself with the route to a different hospital.

Presumably in a true life-or-death, minutes count sort of emergency, misgendering or missed doses of the pill would not be a concern.

Yes. This should be your last concern if there is a true emergency. Otherwise go to the hospital you prefer.

I find it troubling to force religious people to accommodate beliefs they find untrue, so I guess we are even.

If “religious people” monopolize a public necessity like hospitals then THEY are the ones imposing their religious views on others if they chose to impose their religious views on health care. If Catholics did not want this they should not have gotten into the business of community health care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It probably depends on the hospital. I recently left a Catholic hospital and was there for 10 years (I'm not Catholic and neither were a large majority of my coworkers). At my hospital, we turned a blind eye to patients taking birth control (assuming it wasn't contraindicated with what was going on). It couldn't be prescribed. If we had a patient who was trans, they had a private room to ensure there were no issues with mixed genders in rooms/bathrooms. They were called their pronouns of choice. They will use their legal name on hospital records but will put down his preferred name. Doesn't mean he will always be called it.

OP here,

That has been my understanding for our local hospital, and I think it's something we deal with if, for example, my kid ended up being taken there by ambulance with a broken leg or something.

I am just wondering if that has changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It probably depends on the hospital. I recently left a Catholic hospital and was there for 10 years (I'm not Catholic and neither were a large majority of my coworkers). At my hospital, we turned a blind eye to patients taking birth control (assuming it wasn't contraindicated with what was going on). It couldn't be prescribed. If we had a patient who was trans, they had a private room to ensure there were no issues with mixed genders in rooms/bathrooms. They were called their pronouns of choice. They will use their legal name on hospital records but will put down his preferred name. Doesn't mean he will always be called it.

OP here,

That has been my understanding for our local hospital, and I think it's something we deal with if, for example, my kid ended up being taken there by ambulance with a broken leg or something.

I am just wondering if that has changed.

I don't think so I think they are just making a statement. Honestly, for something like a broken leg I would put the kid in my car and take him to a different hospital. I'd only take him to the Catholic hospital for a true true emergency where time is of the essence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It probably depends on the hospital. I recently left a Catholic hospital and was there for 10 years (I'm not Catholic and neither were a large majority of my coworkers). At my hospital, we turned a blind eye to patients taking birth control (assuming it wasn't contraindicated with what was going on). It couldn't be prescribed. If we had a patient who was trans, they had a private room to ensure there were no issues with mixed genders in rooms/bathrooms. They were called their pronouns of choice. They will use their legal name on hospital records but will put down his preferred name. Doesn't mean he will always be called it.

OP here,

That has been my understanding for our local hospital, and I think it's something we deal with if, for example, my kid ended up being taken there by ambulance with a broken leg or something.

I am just wondering if that has changed.

I don't think so I think they are just making a statement. Honestly, for something like a broken leg I would put the kid in my car and take him to a different hospital. I'd only take him to the Catholic hospital for a true true emergency where time is of the essence.

I know a kid who almost died because teachers moved him with a broken leg and the broken bone severed an artery. Many broken legs warrant an ambulance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It probably depends on the hospital. I recently left a Catholic hospital and was there for 10 years (I'm not Catholic and neither were a large majority of my coworkers). At my hospital, we turned a blind eye to patients taking birth control (assuming it wasn't contraindicated with what was going on). It couldn't be prescribed. If we had a patient who was trans, they had a private room to ensure there were no issues with mixed genders in rooms/bathrooms. They were called their pronouns of choice. They will use their legal name on hospital records but will put down his preferred name. Doesn't mean he will always be called it.

OP here,

That has been my understanding for our local hospital, and I think it's something we deal with if, for example, my kid ended up being taken there by ambulance with a broken leg or something.

I am just wondering if that has changed.

Nothing will change, it’s simply the official policy now. It’s been low key implemented for ages, since this trend became popular.

[Anonymous]

In some red states they can refuse service to queer people even if it kills them. Avoid FL.

https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/gov-desantis-signs-slate-of-extreme-anti-lgbtq-bills-enacting-a-record-shattering-number-of-discriminatory-measures-into-law

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If being misgendered would be troubling to you or your child, I would familiarize yourself with the route to a different hospital.

Presumably in a true life-or-death, minutes count sort of emergency, misgendering or missed doses of the pill would not be a concern.

Yes. This should be your last concern if there is a true emergency. Otherwise go to the hospital you prefer.

I find it troubling to force religious people to accommodate beliefs they find untrue, so I guess we are even.

A church congregation should not be forced to no. But a hospital providing health care to the public is not the same thing. Hospitals can’t pick and choose what service they provide based on their interpretation of a book written by men translated many many times into many many languages.
Signed, a Christian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It probably depends on the hospital. I recently left a Catholic hospital and was there for 10 years (I'm not Catholic and neither were a large majority of my coworkers). At my hospital, we turned a blind eye to patients taking birth control (assuming it wasn't contraindicated with what was going on). It couldn't be prescribed. If we had a patient who was trans, they had a private room to ensure there were no issues with mixed genders in rooms/bathrooms. They were called their pronouns of choice. They will use their legal name on hospital records but will put down his preferred name. Doesn't mean he will always be called it.

OP here,

That has been my understanding for our local hospital, and I think it's something we deal with if, for example, my kid ended up being taken there by ambulance with a broken leg or something.

I am just wondering if that has changed.

Paramedic here. You can refuse transport to a particular hospital and they will take you to a different one. They will tell you if they believe the delay to the next closest hospital will matter.

[Anonymous]

Find a new hospital & also community with other parents of trans kids. That community will have good suggestions. You should avoid hospitals that will not honor your kid.