PULSE of NY Supports WPATH New Standards of Care
(Wantagh, Long Island October 4, 2011) PULSE of NY, a Long Island grassroots patient safety organization applauds the new standards of care for transsexual patients.
PULSE, along with Long Island transsexual men and women, rejoice at the release last week of Transgender Health standards by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). These newest Standards of Care affect the treatment of patients who are Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming.
Some of the things which have changed are:
- Psychotherapy is no longer a requirement to receive hormones and surgery, although it is still suggested.
- There are now different standards for surgery, as well. For example, a transgender man who wants a hysterectomy no longer has to live one year as a male in order to receive the surgery. Likewise, a transgender woman who wants her testicles removed does not have to live one year as a female.
Ilene Corina, President of PULSE of NY spent the last 2 years following Long Island Transexual patients through their transitional surgeries as well as day-to-day medical treatments. The finding was that medical care is difficult for people who do not want to recognize their body. “There is very little, if any sensitivity training for medical professionals who work with trangender patients” explains Ilene Corina who just completed a white paper on the subject as a continuation of her fellowship with the American Hospital Association / National Patient Safety Foundation Patient Safety Leadership Training. “Not being treated appropriately leads to patients who don’t get appropriate care.”
“The new WPATH Standards of Care, usher in a breath of fresh air and validation to thousands of transgender and gender variant individuals who know who they are and want nothing more than to self-actualize” says Donna B. Riley, LCSW, PhD Candidate who worked on the project with Corina.
For additional information, call (516) 579-4711.
