To complain about this medical form.

[lilithxx16]

I've just moved house and was required to fill in an online form for myself and my sons so that we can register with a new medical practice.

After filling in my own details, I was really surprised that my 12 year old was expected to register using an identical form, especially as this form is also used to register very young children.

A compulsory question asks whether he describes himself as:

Man (including trans man)
Woman (including trans woman)
Non-binary
Prefer not to say
Other

Why not include options such as boy, child or male?

Another compulsory question asks about his sexuality and whether he is:
Heterosexual/straight
Gay/lesbian
Bisexual
Prefer not to say
Other

Seriously, why are they asking young children about their sexuality?

I have asked for a paper form to be sent so that I can bypass these questions. However, I want to make a formal complaint as I am concerned that further use of this form will confuse parents and potentially encourage adults to force inappropriate labels on young children.

Of course, I will fully support my son to express gender and sexuality freely as he matures. I just don't think these questions are suitable for a child.

AIBU?

It will be a standard form hence the question on sexuality although there should probably be an N/A option for children. The sex question should probably be phrased male/female for clarity. I don't see anything worthy of a formal complaint though.

I'd be tempted to use the "other" box for both of those, and put "child" as the response.

In the middle of a pandemic and one of the largest vaccination campaigns in history, it’s hard to believe anyone would consider wasting practice staff time dealing with such a complaint. Just leave those parts of the form blank.

@thebakeoffwasntasgoodthisyear

In the middle of a pandemic and one of the largest vaccination campaigns in history, it’s hard to believe anyone would consider wasting practice staff time dealing with such a complaint. Just leave those parts of the form blank.

It's an online form and the questions are compulsory: they can't be left blank. That's why OP said she was going to request a paper form so she could bypass the questions.

You can't they're compulsory questions.

Could you not just put man? Because he is male. And then just tick other on the other one?

That's a good suggestion. Thank you

That's dangerous. A lot of medical conditions present differently according to sex. A lot of blood results have normal ranges based on sex. Lumping trans men in with men, and trans women in with women, for medical treatment could seriously harm their health.

@nocoolnamesleft

That's dangerous. A lot of medical conditions present differently according to sex. A lot of blood results have normal ranges based on sex. Lumping trans men in with men, and trans women in with women, for medical treatment could seriously harm their health.

The inclusion of a question about gender identification doesn't exclude the possibility that there was also a question about biological sex. The latter would be essential on a medical questionnaire, I would have thought. The latter could be nice to have to, as it helps medics to be aware of any sensitivities around gender identity when speaking to the patient etc.

Just tick prefer not to say.

There is an option for both called ‘prefer not to say’

Really struggling to understand why a question about sexuality or gender identity would be inappropriate for a child.

YABU if you contact the practice about something as daft as this.

They aren't asking very young children about their sexuality though, it's a standard form that their parents will fill out.

I don't understand why this is a big issue? Man or other if you really object to that for the first question and prefer not to say about sexuality. It might increase workload/cost money to have seperate forms and what is the cut off for adult and children questionnaires? Sexuality may be appropriate to answer in some cases, although not for young ch.

YABU to put in a formal complaint IMO. The NHS has enough on their plate right now

Put a line through the parts that are irrelevant and write N/A.

Done

YABU. You seem to be complaining that the form is too inclusive. You can tick male and prefer not to say. If other options aren't relevant to your son (or offend you), ignore them.

Yanbu

You don't "describe yourself" as anything.

You are male or female.

There should be no room for confusion about biological sex on a form at the drs. It's kinda important they get that info.

In the middle of a pandemic and one of the largest vaccination campaigns in history, it’s hard to believe anyone would consider wasting practice staff time dealing with such a complaint. Just leave those parts of the form blank

A pandemic of a virus where males/men.are more at risk than females/women.

There should be a box at the end where patients can record anything extra they feel the drs should know. But the basic facts , questions should be phrased in a way where there is zero room.for misunderstanding.