The data include age, gender, and client characteristics such as self-reported sexual history and clinical symptoms.
I contacted BMO for a response to the story, and spoke to Ralph Marranca, head of corporate media relations, to ask how the bank was dealing with issues specific to their gender nonconforming clients.
Findings highlight the need for increased education of medical practitioners in regards to engaging with gender diverse clients.
Notably, however, whilst the need to educate healthcare professionals appears common, previous research has also emphasised that practitioners often discount the knowledge held by gender diverse clients.
This lack of knowledge is reflected in the common reporting of medical practitioners using inappropriate terminology when engaging with gender diverse clients.
Limitations aside, the findings indicate the need for better education of medical professionals in regards to engaging with gender diverse clients.
These included guidelines for developing and implementing treatment plans, guidelines around gender matching clients and clinicians, protocols for case management, and promotion of particular evidence-based interventions.
These findings clearly indicate both that some medical professionals are doing well in servicing the healthcare needs of gender diverse clients in Australia, whilst other professionals are falling short of adequately meeting these needs.
Whilst it is likely to remain the case that medical professionals will continue to play something of a gatekeeping role - particularly with regard to accessing Medicare funded therapies and treatments - more supportive and inclusive approaches to practice may help to ameliorate gender diverse clients' feelings of discrimination and discomfort.
By Rachel Syme June 16, 2016 At Bindle & Keep, Daniel Friedman and Rae Tutera create impeccable suiting for gender-noncomforming clients.
