AMA meeting: Anti-discrimination policy expanded to transgendered

The addition will allow the AMA to publicly oppose discrimination against transgender physicians, just as it would oppose inequities based on age, race or gender.

By Kevin B. O'Reilly, AMNews staff. July 16, 2007.

Chicago -- Transgender physicians, medical students and patients should not be discriminated against, the AMA's House of Delegates said at its Annual Meeting here last month.

The Association voted to modify 13 of its policies relating to human rights, medical staff and medical education to add gender identity to the list of characteristics such as race, sex and age that should be protected from discrimination.

The house also recommended that the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs add similar language to its policies on civil rights and physician-patient relationships.

The AMA Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues, established in 2004, identified relevant policies and recommended the changes.

R. Nick Gorton, MD, is an openly transgender physician who said he was lucky to come out in a tolerant environment. He testified, however, about a transgender medical student whose school attempted to force him to leave when he announced his gender identity. It was only after outside intervention that the medical school even agreed to print the student's new legal male name on his diploma.

"Without policy opposing such discrimination, the AMA could not publicly support this student and condemn the school's actions," said Dr. Gorton, speaking as an individual.