NHS faces lawsuit for not funding fertility services for transgenders who want kids

[happydappy2]

Our NHS is being threatened with legal action for not funding fertility services for transgender individuals, before they undergo hormone treatments and sex change operations that lead to sterility.

This could push the NHS over the edge financially-then we'll all have to take out private medical insurance & lo & behold, pharmaceutical companies are profiting big time from children being being brainwashed into believing they're trans.

afraid I can't post a link but its out on twitter & believe the Independent covered it recently.

I didn't realise they were seeking more than others get. I suppose you can't blame them for trying. But I agree it would be wrong if they succeed. I was thinking about it from the principal of non-judgemental equal provision of services. I have a major issue with the creeping concept within the NHS that people who are perceived to have contributed to their condition are somehow less worthy of treatment than others.

I think that if it is proven to a reasonable degree that medical interventions for "sex change" are indeed life-saving and necessary, then trans people who undergo this should absolutely be helped with any subsequent fertility issues.

However, as far as I am aware science does not currently support this. Also, as others have said, transgender patients (and their parents where applicable) need to be made very aware of things like fertility issues before undergoing any form of treatment that is likely to have this impact.

My understanding is that the challenge was for parity with the best practice protocols for those diagnosed with cancer,

There's quite a lot of discussion about this on the thread from last week.

There is a significant postcode lottery for referral to fertility clinics when people are diagnosed with cancer also significant disparities between the sexes.
DR CHERYL FITZGERALD, CONSULTANT IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE AT ST MARY’S, SAID: ‘THERE IS A HUGE INEQUITY. MEN HAVING FERTILITY-DAMAGING TREATMENT ARE AUTOMATICALLY REFERRED TO SPERM BANKING.
‘FOR WOMEN, BECAUSE EGG FREEZING USED TO BE LESS SUCCESSFUL AND BECAUSE IT’S A MORE INVASIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS, IT’S NOT AUTOMATIC.
‘THE EMPHASIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN ON CURING CANCER, BUT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE SURVIVING CANCER, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER TREATMENT, INCLUDING THE CHANCE TO HAVE A FAMILY.’ ” cancerandfertility.co.uk/about/

What is clear though is that of all of the patient-led lobby groups seeking parity or improved medical treatments, the transgender lobby stands head and shoulders above all others in terms of effectiveness

Interesting article laying out current 'patchy' offer for fertility preservation for cancer patients. Also note the requirement for the patient's own consent, regardless of age.

www.bionews.org.uk/page_137830