A French gynaecologist has provoked a national controversy by refusing to examine a transgender patient on the grounds that he is only qualified to treat “real women”.
“I have no expertise to deal with men, even if they have shaved their beards and tell my secretary they have become women,” Dr Victor Acharian wrote in response to a negative online review posted by the patient he rejected.
LGBT groups across Europe have condemned the gynaecologist and one has lodged a police complaint.
Acharian later apologised on French radio. “I reacted excessively out of anger because I felt that I was being attacked unfairly,” he said. “My words were clumsy and I apologise to the trans community, which may have felt offended or hurt.”
He said he had offered to refer the trans patient to a specialist who could provide appropriate medical care, but the patient had shouted, “You’re transphobic!” before storming out of his consulting room.
Source: French gynaecologist ignites row over refusal to treat trans woman
This is truly concerning. Had the gynaecologist complied by taking the patient on, he would have been holding himself out to be qualified to treat persons with male sexual characteristics and potential diseases and conditions arising from male biological conditions. Had he missed any potential disease (for example) arising out of or connected with male sex or male sexual development he could have been sued. he could have been/ought to have been chastised by the Medical Council or qualifying body had he accepted the patient, because he is not qualified to treat persons who, being male by sex, come into his surgery for treatment. His being a gynaecologist means he is qualified to treat biological women only – that is, persons with female sex characteristics and biological makeup.