Page 9 | Transman loses baby during hysterectomy

ItsFunToBeAVampire · 2023-08-09T08:44:31+00:00

Transgender patient loses unborn baby while undergoing hysterectomy while four months pregnant [[https://mol.im/a/12387829 https://mol.im/a/12387829]] This article is horrifying. In my experience women are always given pregnancy tests before surgery, what the hell happened here?

DysonSpheres · 09/08/2023 12:54

CouldNotResist · 09/08/2023 12:52

Horrendous on many levels. Would the transman have chosen to continue the pregnancy had they known they were pregnant? They lost that choice. Would they have opted for an abortion and returned at a later date for the hysterectomy? They lost that choice. Would the surgical team assembled for the hysterectomy not have palpated the area or used ultrasound at any point before making the first incision (evidently not?) It must have been horrific for them embarking upon the procedure and then realising there was a baby in the womb.

All round an absolute disaster.

A pregnancy test would have been so simple to do.

I saw a young transman on Instagram the other day. They had a child. Looking back through their account it became evident that a gender clinic in Edinburgh had prescribed them Testosterone after a few consultations (they were very early twenties possibly late teens and had travelled up from the south of England). They then discovered they were already pregnant when they started on Testosterone and chose to stop and have the baby.

I was aghast at the possibility that they hadn’t done a pregnancy test or asked the right questions of this obviously sexually active young female before prescribing them Testosterone. Maybe they were too early in their pregnancy to test positive I don’t know. Either way I thought it negligent. I looked up the clinic and the Dr they named as being ‘brilliant’ - they have seemingly retired overseas now.

The transman has gone on to have top surgery and seemingly advises other would-be ‘seahorse Dads’ on pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Bloody hell!

Datun · 09/08/2023 12:56

CouldNotResist · 09/08/2023 12:52

Horrendous on many levels. Would the transman have chosen to continue the pregnancy had they known they were pregnant? They lost that choice. Would they have opted for an abortion and returned at a later date for the hysterectomy? They lost that choice. Would the surgical team assembled for the hysterectomy not have palpated the area or used ultrasound at any point before making the first incision (evidently not?) It must have been horrific for them embarking upon the procedure and then realising there was a baby in the womb.

All round an absolute disaster.

A pregnancy test would have been so simple to do.

I saw a young transman on Instagram the other day. They had a child. Looking back through their account it became evident that a gender clinic in Edinburgh had prescribed them Testosterone after a few consultations (they were very early twenties possibly late teens and had travelled up from the south of England). They then discovered they were already pregnant when they started on Testosterone and chose to stop and have the baby.

I was aghast at the possibility that they hadn’t done a pregnancy test or asked the right questions of this obviously sexually active young female before prescribing them Testosterone. Maybe they were too early in their pregnancy to test positive I don’t know. Either way I thought it negligent. I looked up the clinic and the Dr they named as being ‘brilliant’ - they have seemingly retired overseas now.

The transman has gone on to have top surgery and seemingly advises other would-be ‘seahorse Dads’ on pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Freddie McConnell, who is not only a journalist, but also a politically motivated transactivist, campaigning to have them self registered as the father, rather than the mother they were, apparently was entirely unaware that a double mastectomy would mean they wouldn't be able to breastfeed their baby.

It came as a shock when their baby was born.

Dinopawus · 09/08/2023 12:56

@DrLightman exactly. And why it is quite possible that they may not have given the correct answers to the pregnancy screening.

However it is not unusual for patients to give inaccurate history. They may have forgotten, be concealing domestic abuse or simply saying what they think will get them the surgery they want. I am wholly in agreement that a check test would have been wise.

I'm inclined to think that people - meaning HCP and the patient - were probably guilty of seeing trans first and biology second.

NotBadConsidering · 09/08/2023 12:57

DysonSpheres · 09/08/2023 12:52

They're working with what they've got I suppose. I certainly am not an advocate for bodily mutilation in name of so-called gender authenticity.

Since the hospital messed up here, and it wasn't necessarily the patients fault or related to their trans status, it seems a bit unfair to keep this thread running.

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But it’s reasonable to consider that the patient’s trans status altered the answers to the questions and/or the interpretation of the answers. There must be something to consider when a Women’s hospital doing an operation unique to women surrounded medical staff who deal with women’s health problems and pregnancy care all day, everyday didn’t do a pregnancy test.

JenniferBarkley · 09/08/2023 12:57

Folkevermore · 09/08/2023 11:07

It is extremely sad, I'm glad they have now changed their policy to say every woman is tested as standard. Without knowing the answers given to the questions I don't think it's fair to judge the nurse though.

Certainly not fair to judge the patient. I don't believe any of us would believe it possible that a hospital would perform a hysterectomy on us at four months pregnant.

Ofcourseshecan · 09/08/2023 13:00

The hospital may have made a mistake, but the patient should have done a pregnancy test herself. It is very foolish to hand over all responsibility to others, when it’s so easy to do a simple and necessary thing.

It’s a pity professionals are not allowed to take into account that an adult woman trying to change sex may have mental-health issues that require extra care.

readbooksdrinktea · 09/08/2023 13:01

In an email from the hospital, Mr Pohlner was told that depending on his last period or if he was sexually active that he may require a pregnancy test.

How is this an actual, serious sentence? I want off this mad timeline.

readbooksdrinktea · 09/08/2023 13:02

Ofcourseshecan · 09/08/2023 13:00

The hospital may have made a mistake, but the patient should have done a pregnancy test herself. It is very foolish to hand over all responsibility to others, when it’s so easy to do a simple and necessary thing.

It’s a pity professionals are not allowed to take into account that an adult woman trying to change sex may have mental-health issues that require extra care.

But since I'm in it, this. Absolutely this.

MeridianB · 09/08/2023 13:04

You mean 'woman loses baby ...' as it is clearly only women who can get pregnant.

Yes, please get the thread name changed.

If the hospital failed do a pregnancy test on a woman of childbearing age for any reason before this op then shame on them.

pontipinemum · 09/08/2023 13:05

I am actually very shocked the hospital didn't do a test and glad that they have changed their policy.

I lived in Australia for a while in a rural back water. I had to go to hospital once because the GP was away, even though I had a chest infection they did a pregnancy test on me! So I am really surprised that one isn't done as standard before a hysterectomy!!

howdoesatoastermaketoast · 09/08/2023 13:07

Nevermay · 09/08/2023 09:46

"he" was obviously "she" in bed then, wasn't she? And how would she NOT KNOW pregnancy was a possibility after sex?

I think in earlier planning discussions it was agreed that a pregnancy test would be required and she chose a blood test and then in the immediate preparations the nurse taking the blood ran through a checklist to see what tests should be run and when you checked the 'this is a man' box a pregnancy test wasn't required.

If I'm understanding correctly the questions asked have been reworked to try to avoid such problems in future. Sex matters in healthcare.

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:08

Flickersy · 09/08/2023 09:58

So it happened in lockdown, when consultations etc were done remotely and healthcare services were generally under pressure.

The surgery was rushed and booked in for only 10 days after the consultation.

The patient was assured a pregnancy test would be done but this didn't happen.

They were asked a series of questions to determine if pregnancy was a possibility, but still no test was done.

I don't think this has anything to do with the patients trans status, I think this is a hospital cock-up.

Absolute bullshit and an insult to the medical professionals who carried on to the exact standards they would’ve under normal circumstances just under 10 times more pressure.

porridgeisbae · 09/08/2023 13:09

Wow. :(
Yes they always ask if you're pregnant before they do anything- and they do a test. Maybe they wanted to and refused it, but they usually insist. I'm not sexually active for the moment and haven't been for years, but they still insist on it.

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:09

howdoesatoastermaketoast · 09/08/2023 13:07

I think in earlier planning discussions it was agreed that a pregnancy test would be required and she chose a blood test and then in the immediate preparations the nurse taking the blood ran through a checklist to see what tests should be run and when you checked the 'this is a man' box a pregnancy test wasn't required.

If I'm understanding correctly the questions asked have been reworked to try to avoid such problems in future. Sex matters in healthcare.

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This has happened because a person ticked the wrong sex box on their medical questionnaire.

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:10

pontipinemum · 09/08/2023 13:05

I am actually very shocked the hospital didn't do a test and glad that they have changed their policy.

I lived in Australia for a while in a rural back water. I had to go to hospital once because the GP was away, even though I had a chest infection they did a pregnancy test on me! So I am really surprised that one isn't done as standard before a hysterectomy!!

The only reason it wouldn’t be is if you lie on your medical questionnaire and say you’re a man. But you aren’t….

Titfortat78 · 09/08/2023 13:10

Well how else were they supposed to have sex? They live as a man just that they still have they're lady part's not a penis.

Flickersy · 09/08/2023 13:11

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:08

Absolute bullshit and an insult to the medical professionals who carried on to the exact standards they would’ve under normal circumstances just under 10 times more pressure.

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Not bullshit at all. Mistakes get made under pressure and when consultations are done remotely. We've seen this all over the world during covid. Additionally the hospital has now changed its policy to make pregnancy tests mandatory for these kinds of surgery, so they clearly recognise there was a weakness in their system.

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:13

Flickersy · 09/08/2023 13:11

Not bullshit at all. Mistakes get made under pressure and when consultations are done remotely. We've seen this all over the world during covid. Additionally the hospital has now changed its policy to make pregnancy tests mandatory for these kinds of surgery, so they clearly recognise there was a weakness in their system.

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I would seriously suggest this was not a mistake and that a pregnancy test wasn’t done because the patient lied on the health questionnaire and the nurse was terrified to question it. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the medical professionals knew damn well they ought to do a pregnancy test as standard. But felt they couldn’t push it.

howdoesatoastermaketoast · 09/08/2023 13:13

indeed - teaching people that lying about their sex to everyone in all circumstances is a totally sensible thing to do is a pretty wrong headed stupid idea to be honest.

teaching people that even where they know or should know that the patient is lying about this it is somehow intolerable to correct them is even worse.

The group of men being prepped for a hysterectomy is zero. But you go from a conversation where everyone knows but pretends that that isn't true to a situation where the piece of paper says don't run this test it isn't needed.

ohsuzannah · 09/08/2023 13:14

The word "He" throughout that article is really annoying me.
He lost the baby during a hysterectomy. Really? 😡

Flickersy · 09/08/2023 13:15

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:13

I would seriously suggest this was not a mistake and that a pregnancy test wasn’t done because the patient lied on the health questionnaire and the nurse was terrified to question it. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the medical professionals knew damn well they ought to do a pregnancy test as standard. But felt they couldn’t push it.

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Read the article. The patient actively requested a pregnancy test. This wasn't a case of no-one mentioning the possibility so as not to offend.

ohsuzannah · 09/08/2023 13:15

And surely when they cut her open they would have seen a baby in the womb? 😢
I feel sick reading this.

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:16

ohsuzannah · 09/08/2023 13:15

And surely when they cut her open they would have seen a baby in the womb? 😢
I feel sick reading this.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think they cut them open. I think they go up and pull it out. So you wouldn’t see the contents until afterwards

Emotionalsupportviper · 09/08/2023 13:16

Elepunt · 09/08/2023 10:01

When they were told by the nurse a pregnancy test wouldn't be necessary, any reason they couldn't have taken some self responsibility? If they were having unprotected sex with a man and presumably not using any contraception then why didn't they say yes there is a chance? This is the issue with this gender bullshit, when it comes to medical treatment sex is important. I wonder if having to probably refer to this woman as a man made the nurse unsure about whether they'd be cancelled or called transphobic for carrying out a rational pre op check.

This.

And I don't believe that a woman wo has carried and birthed three children previously is unaware of the signs of pregnancy.

And I also think that she should not have told her children about their accidentally aborted sibling.

Fuckingfuming1 · 09/08/2023 13:17

Flickersy · 09/08/2023 13:15

Read the article. The patient actively requested a pregnancy test. This wasn't a case of no-one mentioning the possibility so as not to offend.

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So the patient says after the event.

I’m sorry, I just do not believe that a nurse would fuck up like that.