Res. No. 1244
Resolution calling upon all medical professionals to treat and provide appropriate health care services to transgender persons.
By Council Members James, Brewer, Chin, Dromm, Jackson, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Palma, Rose, Mendez, Mark-Viverito and Gonzalez
Whereas, While lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals share many of the same basic health needs as the general population, numerous studies have shown that the LGBT community experiences significant health disparities and barriers related to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity; and
Whereas, Some attribute these disparities to LGBT individuals avoiding or delaying care, or seeking care yet receiving inadequate care due to perceived or real homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and discrimination by health care professionals and institutions; and
Whereas, This has prompted organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association to issue clinical guidelines for a medical professional when providing care to LGBT persons; and
Whereas, The National Center for Transgender Equality research indicates that transgender persons may experience problems accessing health care; and
Whereas, According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), transgender is a term that is used to describe individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth; and
Whereas, GLAAD recognizes that some transgender people may decide to alter their bodies through the use of hormone therapy or through surgery; and
Whereas, While the exact number of transgender persons in the United States is unknown, studies suggest that they make up a small, though substantial, population; and
Whereas, Some of the reasons that transgender persons may experience health care disparities include a lack of insurance, discrimination, exclusions in their health plans for transgender-related care, and lack of appropriate training among practitioners in treating transgender patients; and
Whereas, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has also spoken out against the plight of transgender persons in receiving health care; and
Whereas, ACOG recommends that obstetricians and gynecologists treating transgender persons should prepare to provide routine treatment and screening or refer them to other physicians for skilled medical treatment; and
Whereas, ACOG further stated that transgender individuals who were assigned female sex at birth but are now living as a male will continue to need breast and reproductive organ screening, unless they had a mastectomy or had their ovaries, uterus and/or cervix removed; and
Whereas, Likewise, transgender persons who were assigned male sex at birth but are now living as female who had genital reconstruction surgery may need cancer screening of the neovagina and breast cancer screening if taking estrogen hormones; and
Whereas, It is essential to ensure that medical and health care providers do not engage in gender identity discrimination, and guarantee that transgender individuals receive the highest quality of care; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon all medical professionals to treat and provide appropriate health care services to transgender persons.
JM
LS# 3364
3/2/12