In what other circumstances is a GP asked to agree with a patients self diagnosis through the threat of self-harm?
I really don't know. The "do what I say, right now, or else" aspect seems more like a personality disorder or something.
When reminded of Webberley, I was reminded of this thread, which has some very interesting points:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3385789-Helen-Webberley-found-guilty?pg=10
Poster Hamster00 provided a transsexual perspective on the issue of the role of the medical community and gatekeeping. Although anecdotal, I think the discussion is worth reading.
Quoting two of Hamster's posts in full:
Just sidetracking a little (but running parallel to the discussion)..
I don't know how many people are aware but "bridging hormones" can be readily prescribed by a "friendly GP" whilst a patient is awaiting referral to a GIC. This has been going on since GMC guidance came out in around 2016 www.gponline.com/gps-initiate-hormone-therapy-transgender-patients-says-gmc/article/1388228
As I understand it, the current wait for a 1st appt at the "big GIC in London" is approximately 12 months+
There is an implicit knowledge in the "trans" community that "to get on 'the 'mones', just go see your GP and they'll sort you out". It's not exactly difficult to convince your average family doctor - who doesn't necessarily have the specialist knowledge of trans / gd / whatever. Just thrust the guidance in front of them and pretty much walk out with boxes of pills.
GPs are more scared of patients self-medicating from backstreet internet retailers, so they tend to capitulate.
Of course I wouldn't blatantly say that anyone who claims they're trans but fancies a set of boobs because their AGP is running rampant could do this... but yeah - see the loophole?
So it's not just Webberley that's complicit in the dishing out of hormones with no background... it's MUCH, MUCH bigger.
See, when I went to my GP with my "Shania Twain Moment", I got bundled off to a psych - who diagnosed GD, then off to the GIC for TWO diagnoses of the same before I even went near an endocrinologist. I have it in triplicate, in writing lol.
Joking aside - if you know which buttons to press, you can walk in and out of your GP the same as if you wanted some painkillers for your bad back.
Food for thought...
And in a separate post:
I live in England also - but the point I am making is that obtaining hormones via a GP with no additional consultation are too easy PERIOD.
There is:
Minimal discussion with a "non specialist" care provider
No psychiatric evaluation
No official diagnosis of gender dysphoria
No physiological checks unless baseline hormone levels are taken (just kidney/liver function tests AFTER the fact)
There has to absolutely be that diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a specialist care provider plus a visit to an endocrinologist prior to prescription.
Call me a transmedicalist / truscum / whatever, I don't care - but there have to be rigorous checks and diagnosable dysphoria before hormones are prescribed.
At the moment that's NOT happening and it's too easy for any male with AGP or fetishistic transvestism (for example) to walk into a GP and obtain drugs.
The whole damn system has caved in on itself trying to "appease the feels" and it's lost the stringent criteria it once had.
And it's no wonder the private GICs are making a quick buck because it £££ in their pocket sanctioned by the GMC who have "relaxed the rules".