A small change by my local surgery - firmly asking for sex at birth

What happens when you tell them people can change their registered gender every year if they feel like it?

Not sure if the option is still available but they used "intersex" to push the German self-ID laws through. About half of Germans that I talk to about this issue think it's about people with a DSD and are incredulous when I say that the laws mean anyone can choose what sex they want to have recorded.

That's good news! My last interaction with the NHS was requesting my medical records (I don't live in the UK anymore) and was about a year and a half ago. One thing I remember about the online request form was it did ask for sex, but that question was accompanied that with a "Why are we asking for your sex" info box and the explanation was a ridiculous and abject apology for asking to know a patient's sex and the tone was very much "we're so deeply sorry we have to ask this incredibly offensive question, so sorry if it upsets anyone, we want to change it gender which is far more glittery and fun than boring old sex, but some big meanies are insisting that sex is still relevant to the medical profession. Please let us know if you need trauma counselling after completing this form" (I may be exaggerating but only a smidge 😆). I almost didn't continue completing the form I was so riled by this nonsense.

Intersex is an outdated term for a person with a DSD. They still have a sex.

My GP asked me for ‘sex at birth’ today when I was on the phone about my son. Definitely wasn’t the same language last time I spoke to them. Changes are afoot…..

We have a new Dr's surgery in my NZ town. The registration form asks for sex assigned at birth (male/female/indeterminate) and gender identity (male/female/another gender). I wanted to register with them but I am unable to truthfully answer these two mandatory questions.

Maybe it’s for those born outside of the U.K.? I think Germany, for example, had an indeterminate sex option for babies born with ambiguous genitalia until further testing can be done. I can’t imagine Germany has much use for that category these days but I guess if they won’t be the only country to have a third option for use while DSD’s are diagnosed.

'Intersex' is a rather dated catch all for a bunch of sex specific conditions. Just asking someone if they are 'intersex' is useless unless there are a bunch of follow up questions.

I know that. But people with DSDs are male
or female with a developmental disorder (it’s in the name!). I thought firstly that intersex was largely outdated as a term, and secondly that these individuals were still identified and recorded as male or female. I’ve never seen Intersex as a sex marker on medical records in 25 years of working as a doctor.

Completely agree. The PRF1 form was updated as part of the response to the infected blood scandal recommendations I think. Hadn’t heard that this had changed as well re: sex

Intersex is a genuine condition. Different to trans.

Hmm. I can’t get into the online form without giving all my details and I don’t want to re-register 😅. But the paper version of the form asks for ‘sex as on your NHS record’, options: male, female, intersex (wtf?) or not known. I don’t believe that anyone has ‘intersex’ as their official sex marker on medical records??

I think it’s a central form used by most surgeries - I would love if this has actually happened. Off to check if ours has changed too. Unfortunately our clinical system records ‘gender’. I emailed them months ago citing the Sullivan report (as well as actual common sense and clinical concerns) and asking when they would change this and I’ve had no response.

Small victories 😁, at birth as well, not 'assigned'.

Perfect sense, which also seems to be returning to your surgery. I'll keep my eyes peeled.