As always when this topic comes up, I go back to Contrapoint's video on Transtrenders. On the whole, I wish this stuff mattered less, but I would like to have more good medical studies supporting...
As always when this topic comes up, I go back to Contrapoint's video on Transtrenders. On the whole, I wish this stuff mattered less, but I would like to have more good medical studies supporting the efficacy of current treatments (or else pushing us to find new, better treatments).
Fundamentally, I just don't have an issue with "pathologization" as Abigail describes it. I do view being transgender as a medical condition which requires treatment, and I am at some level uncomfortable with people that seemingly make light of a medical condition. Though I'm supportive of the informed consent model because it was the way my wife first sought care.
Edit: After talking with my wife, she brought up some points about conditions doctors should be checking for even under informed consent. Things like a patient having a history of bipolar mania is definitely relevant, and it's usually worthwhile to test whether the patient could be intersex since that can drastically affect hormones (especially around puberty). While some people will see that as gatekeeping, I think it's okay to wait a couple days to run through a checklist. If there was a sense of trust that doctors fully supported their patients, this would probably be more acceptable, but that sense of trust has been broken in the UK.
I don't think that literally any place that doesn't have an informed consent model requires you to wait "only a few days to run through a checklist," though. Not even close. Even here in Germany,...
While some people will see that as gatekeeping, I think it's okay to wait a couple days to run through a checklist.
I don't think that literally any place that doesn't have an informed consent model requires you to wait "only a few days to run through a checklist," though. Not even close. Even here in Germany, which is FAR better than the UK when it comes to access to trans healthcare, it's an unacceptably difficult task to even access the people who do the gatekeeping prior to getting trans healthcare.
I've recently taken up the even more radical, arguably-out-of-the-overton-window view that this isn't actually a trans issue. I desperately want a world in which all healthcare is informed...
I've recently taken up the even more radical, arguably-out-of-the-overton-window view that this isn't actually a trans issue. I desperately want a world in which all healthcare is informed consent.
I want to be able to sign a paper that says "I am capable of reading and evaluating medical literature on my own, give me a limited form of medical license that allows me to do anything a GP can do but only for myself, and I'll call a real doctor for a second opinion if I feel like I need to".
(I recently tried to pitch this to my very right-wing congress representatnve upon realizing how libertarian it sounded, but got back a short "that's a state issue and not a federal one" form letter email. I have not tried any of the state government people yet because I have no executive function. Incidentally, one of the things I would like to be able to prescribe myself is ADHD medication.)
I think this would end up with "prescribe yourself opioids" ads and further addiction issues. A properly healthy and educated population could handle your approach to healthcare. But we're not...
I think this would end up with "prescribe yourself opioids" ads and further addiction issues. A properly healthy and educated population could handle your approach to healthcare. But we're not there yet.
While a nice idea, I think practically there would be issues. It would be susceptible to abuse/manipulation as others try to push their tangled pseudoscience cure, but now with actually harmful...
While a nice idea, I think practically there would be issues. It would be susceptible to abuse/manipulation as others try to push their tangled pseudoscience cure, but now with actually harmful drugs. I’m not sure I like the sound of TikTok influencing saying how much more healthy they feel on high dose amiodarone or levothyroxine.
I would also not like anyone in a position of responsibility/driving heavy vehicles to be messing too much with their physiology.
Then there is the whole opioids/addictive substances and even antibiotic resistance to consider.
Overall, drugs are regulated because they are harmful, and I would think a better option would be to allow more maverick doctors to be the tandem skydiver to maverick patients to make sure everyone remains within the outer bounds of what is safe.
"My afternoon watching Healthblogger Tiktok is as valid as 8+ years of medical school, I should have carte blanche to prescribe medicine and treatments to myself (and my children) as I see fit" is...
"My afternoon watching Healthblogger Tiktok is as valid as 8+ years of medical school, I should have carte blanche to prescribe medicine and treatments to myself (and my children) as I see fit" is a strong stance to defend for sure. My own stance is more "humans have proven completely incapable of thinking further into the future than next payday and they still think maybe vaccines cause autism" but I already knew my leanings were auth-left.
What about "to precribe these classes of drugs, you have to have this kind of training" and then open courses? Because, honestly, med school from 40y ago where some don't really follow up on...
What about "to precribe these classes of drugs, you have to have this kind of training" and then open courses?
Because, honestly, med school from 40y ago where some don't really follow up on current developments isn't worth that much in my humble opinion.
And we are talking about prescription drugs. There are butchers who literally rather cut you open instead of exercising with you and teaching you how to move property because they were not taught to do that couple decades back.
I mean, that's not too dissimilar of how the Greek pharmaceutical system works. As long as the prescription medicine isn't highly addictive or (due to regulations) isn't antibiotics, you can...
I mean, that's not too dissimilar of how the Greek pharmaceutical system works. As long as the prescription medicine isn't highly addictive or (due to regulations) isn't antibiotics, you can pretty much go to any pharmacy and purchase it. So things like prescription NSAIDs, non-opioid prescription painkillers, muscle relaxants, hormones, gastrointestinal drugs, xanax, and other medications, you can pretty much just walk into a pharmacy and buy them for yourself without a pharmacist typically batting an eye. There is always the chance that they'll ask you what you need it for (to make sure) and why, but overall almost all pharmacists pretty much freely sell prescription medicine without requiring prescriptions.
Granted, it's not a perfect system (e.g. xanax seems to be quite overused) but it saves a lot of money in the long-term, considering that, to go to a private doctor rather than a public doctor (as the Greek public healthcare system is underfunded since the economic crisis), you'll pay a lot more than you saved by getting a discount from your prescription.
This is what I read as the central message of the essay. Transitioning only affect the individual undergoing the treatment to any relevant extent. I'm not aware of it causing other detrimental...
If someone wants to transition, that’s their business
This is what I read as the central message of the essay. Transitioning only affect the individual undergoing the treatment to any relevant extent. I'm not aware of it causing other detrimental issues which could merit some gatekeeping (e.g. antibiotic resistance or addiction). So the only consideration that is merited is that of how much resources should be allocated to this over some other need. That's an issue with all treatments and if transitioning wasn't being gatekept I'd guess the cost would end up being miniscule compared to other medical interventions.
Couple years back we've had (in Czechia) this discussion about whether having M/F was really necessary on government-issued ID cards. Before that a discussion whether changing M to F really,...
Couple years back we've had (in Czechia) this discussion about whether having M/F was really necessary on government-issued ID cards. Before that a discussion whether changing M to F really, really required cutting off one's penis.
Parents in US are apparently concerned that someone will incite their kids to cut theirs penises off or maybe grow a pair of breasts.
I am no expert on transition, but one thing is pretty clear to me. A whole lot of people are obsessed with other people's genitals.
Some do have legitimate concerns, like those US parents. After all, it's potentially a mutilation one might eventually regret.
Others are just authoritarians who enjoy demonstrations of power. Over half of western population has authoritarian tendencies. It might have something to do with our culture. Like spending 8h day serving a dictator.
This was excellent, thank you for sharing!
As always when this topic comes up, I go back to Contrapoint's video on Transtrenders. On the whole, I wish this stuff mattered less, but I would like to have more good medical studies supporting the efficacy of current treatments (or else pushing us to find new, better treatments).
Fundamentally, I just don't have an issue with "pathologization" as Abigail describes it. I do view being transgender as a medical condition which requires treatment, and I am at some level uncomfortable with people that seemingly make light of a medical condition. Though I'm supportive of the informed consent model because it was the way my wife first sought care.
Edit: After talking with my wife, she brought up some points about conditions doctors should be checking for even under informed consent. Things like a patient having a history of bipolar mania is definitely relevant, and it's usually worthwhile to test whether the patient could be intersex since that can drastically affect hormones (especially around puberty). While some people will see that as gatekeeping, I think it's okay to wait a couple days to run through a checklist. If there was a sense of trust that doctors fully supported their patients, this would probably be more acceptable, but that sense of trust has been broken in the UK.
I don't think that literally any place that doesn't have an informed consent model requires you to wait "only a few days to run through a checklist," though. Not even close. Even here in Germany, which is FAR better than the UK when it comes to access to trans healthcare, it's an unacceptably difficult task to even access the people who do the gatekeeping prior to getting trans healthcare.
I've recently taken up the even more radical, arguably-out-of-the-overton-window view that this isn't actually a trans issue. I desperately want a world in which all healthcare is informed consent.
I want to be able to sign a paper that says "I am capable of reading and evaluating medical literature on my own, give me a limited form of medical license that allows me to do anything a GP can do but only for myself, and I'll call a real doctor for a second opinion if I feel like I need to".
(I recently tried to pitch this to my very right-wing congress representatnve upon realizing how libertarian it sounded, but got back a short "that's a state issue and not a federal one" form letter email. I have not tried any of the state government people yet because I have no executive function. Incidentally, one of the things I would like to be able to prescribe myself is ADHD medication.)
I think this would end up with "prescribe yourself opioids" ads and further addiction issues. A properly healthy and educated population could handle your approach to healthcare. But we're not there yet.
While a nice idea, I think practically there would be issues. It would be susceptible to abuse/manipulation as others try to push their tangled pseudoscience cure, but now with actually harmful drugs. I’m not sure I like the sound of TikTok influencing saying how much more healthy they feel on high dose amiodarone or levothyroxine.
I would also not like anyone in a position of responsibility/driving heavy vehicles to be messing too much with their physiology.
Then there is the whole opioids/addictive substances and even antibiotic resistance to consider.
Overall, drugs are regulated because they are harmful, and I would think a better option would be to allow more maverick doctors to be the tandem skydiver to maverick patients to make sure everyone remains within the outer bounds of what is safe.
"My afternoon watching Healthblogger Tiktok is as valid as 8+ years of medical school, I should have carte blanche to prescribe medicine and treatments to myself (and my children) as I see fit" is a strong stance to defend for sure. My own stance is more "humans have proven completely incapable of thinking further into the future than next payday and they still think maybe vaccines cause autism" but I already knew my leanings were auth-left.
What about "to precribe these classes of drugs, you have to have this kind of training" and then open courses?
Because, honestly, med school from 40y ago where some don't really follow up on current developments isn't worth that much in my humble opinion.
And we are talking about prescription drugs. There are butchers who literally rather cut you open instead of exercising with you and teaching you how to move property because they were not taught to do that couple decades back.
I mean, that's not too dissimilar of how the Greek pharmaceutical system works. As long as the prescription medicine isn't highly addictive or (due to regulations) isn't antibiotics, you can pretty much go to any pharmacy and purchase it. So things like prescription NSAIDs, non-opioid prescription painkillers, muscle relaxants, hormones, gastrointestinal drugs, xanax, and other medications, you can pretty much just walk into a pharmacy and buy them for yourself without a pharmacist typically batting an eye. There is always the chance that they'll ask you what you need it for (to make sure) and why, but overall almost all pharmacists pretty much freely sell prescription medicine without requiring prescriptions.
Granted, it's not a perfect system (e.g. xanax seems to be quite overused) but it saves a lot of money in the long-term, considering that, to go to a private doctor rather than a public doctor (as the Greek public healthcare system is underfunded since the economic crisis), you'll pay a lot more than you saved by getting a discount from your prescription.
This is what I read as the central message of the essay. Transitioning only affect the individual undergoing the treatment to any relevant extent. I'm not aware of it causing other detrimental issues which could merit some gatekeeping (e.g. antibiotic resistance or addiction). So the only consideration that is merited is that of how much resources should be allocated to this over some other need. That's an issue with all treatments and if transitioning wasn't being gatekept I'd guess the cost would end up being miniscule compared to other medical interventions.
Couple years back we've had (in Czechia) this discussion about whether having M/F was really necessary on government-issued ID cards. Before that a discussion whether changing M to F really, really required cutting off one's penis.
Parents in US are apparently concerned that someone will incite their kids to cut theirs penises off or maybe grow a pair of breasts.
I am no expert on transition, but one thing is pretty clear to me. A whole lot of people are obsessed with other people's genitals.
Some do have legitimate concerns, like those US parents. After all, it's potentially a mutilation one might eventually regret.
Others are just authoritarians who enjoy demonstrations of power. Over half of western population has authoritarian tendencies. It might have something to do with our culture. Like spending 8h day serving a dictator.
Please don't parrot right wing hyperbole that you clearly know nothing about in ~lgbt