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Original poster

BMA Advice about Pregnant People

89 replies

DaddaGreen · 29/01/2017 09:23

The BMA has issued advice to doctors that the term "expectant mother's" is excusionary & the term "pregnant people" should be used instead. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4167632/Don-t-call-pregnant-patients-mothers.html?ito=twitter_share_article-factbox#mol-a3f41b20-e5a4-11e6-9817-45bcc625c5e7

I'm a man. Probably the defining part of "living as a man" is that I can't give birth to kids. Can anyone explain how you can have severe enough body dysmorphia to be triggered by this but not to decide to carry a baby to term?

OP posts:
Dinosaurus86 · 29/01/2017 22:53

Datun - perhaps it's like in some languages where if you're talking to a group of women then you use the feminine, but if even one man arrives then you swap to the masculine..?

Datun · 29/01/2017 10:23

It doesn't actually say to only refer to intersex or transmen as pregnant people, it says we can include them by saying pregnant people. It doesn't say but just to them.

And as there is only ONE pregnant transman in the country why is it deemed necessary to re-write all the literature!

Original poster
DaddaGreen · 29/01/2017 10:16

How is asking about what seems an obvious contradiction transphobic?

OP posts:
tribpot · 29/01/2017 10:14

I've read it - I don't think it does say that 'pregnant people' is a term to use when directly addressing a trans or intersex person. I would expect to see, for example, information leaflets produced by the BMA to refer to pregnant people rather than expectant mothers (this would slightly confound those couples who say 'we are pregnant' when quite clearly only one of them is).

A link directly to the PDF is here.

AuntieStella · 29/01/2017 10:09

I agree that it's a poor summary and does not reflect what it says in the actual report.

PencilsInSpace · 29/01/2017 10:04

And from the intro section: This guidance should be applied to all forms of communication, including conversations, committee papers, documents, letters, emails and the website. Anything that we produce reflects the association and it is vital that all our communications are free from discriminatory language, or what could be interpreted as discriminatory language.

PencilsInSpace · 29/01/2017 10:00

It says: A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. We can include intersex men and transmen who may get pregnant by saying ‘pregnant people’ instead of ‘expectant mothers.

The 'quick reference guide' says that instead of 'expectant mothers', 'pregnant people' should be used.

BMA Advice about Pregnant People
AuntieStella · 29/01/2017 09:50

DailyMail has quoted it so inaccurately.

Nowhere does it say that doctors cannot refer to pregnant women.

It does say that the term 'pregnant people' is one to consider when talking to or about a pregnant patient who is intersex or a trans an.

This sort of transphobic shit stirring really makes me cross.

Datun · 29/01/2017 09:48

And, apart from The Sun, it has the biggest UK circulation.

PencilsInSpace · 29/01/2017 09:45

Can't link directly as it's a PDF download but if you click here it's the top link - BMA Guide To Effective Communication 2016.

So not twaddle, unfortunately.

Gallavich · 29/01/2017 09:34

The daily mail is the only mainstream paper covering transborg nonsense. They aren't making this up.

AskBasil · 29/01/2017 09:32

No one can explain it Dadda. It's like a religious mystery in the catholic church, we are not expected to understand, just accept.

It isn't twaddle Crumbs1. The Daily Mail hasn't made this up. The documents exist.

Luckily, most medical professionals are too sensible to take any notice of them. For now.

Crumbs1 · 29/01/2017 09:29

It's the Daily Mail so twaddle.

Xenophile · 29/01/2017 09:27

No Dadda, because by all the metrics of dysmorphia/dysphoria it is an absolute contradiction.