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Diagnosis vs. Treatment: Barriers to Medical Care

   

Kelley Winters Ph.D. notes:

While the existence of a diagnostic coding has helped affirming, supportive care providers to make hormonal and surgical transition procedures available to some transitioning individuals, the specific diagnostic criteria and supporting text of the current Gender Identity Disorder category support the opposite approach – punitive gender-conversion therapies intended to change or suppress gender identity or expression which differ from assigned birth sex roles. The consequences of the doctrine of “disordered” gender identity in the latest DSM-IV-TR include barriers to medical care for transitioning individuals far beyond the scope of transition itself. It is time for mental health policies that do not harm those they are intended to help.

Full article:
http://gidreform.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/diagnosis-vs-treatment-barriers-to-medical-care/


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Posted by Andrea James on 08/14 at 08:36 AM

The spirit of the DSM and WPATH’s Standards of care relating to the triadic process, which includes the diagnostic process, categorizes Gender Identity Disorder as a medical condition.  Is that not the purpose of this diagnostic process? to separate the possible mental issues and place the diagnosis squarely in the medical arena.  The patient is then referred on for hormone therapy and to the surgeon for Gender Reassignment Surgery.  Therefore, how does anyone say that “disorder” is a derogatory term here?  It was certainly not derogatory to those successfully transitioning, or have successfully transitioned.  By the way, I am a M to F transsexual.

Dr Joan Bailey
President
Transgender Education Foundation

Posted by  on  08/18  at  08:00 AM

As the new APA Task Force report notes, the so-called “triadic therapies” are quickly becoming obsolete and are already rejected by a majority of transmen. As an example on the transwomen side, we can get facial feminization surgeries without being diagnosed as mentally ill or disordered. Most people following ritual documents like the DSM or SoC are those who can afford it: well-to-do white late transitioners. Many segments of the community skip this gatekeeping apparatus entirely.

Why do you feel it is necessary to see gender variance as a disease? Shouldn’t health decisions be made between you and your doctor, rather than mediated through a mental health gatekeeper? Who benefits from that (besides the gatekeeper)?

Posted by Andrea James  on  08/18  at  08:11 AM
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