Medical experts have warned that the National Health Service’s (NHS) algorithms for assessing disease risk may not be suitable for transgender patients. The Trans Gap Project, a research initiative launched by a group of doctors and medical students, aims to address the lack of research into the trans community’s medical needs, which has resulted in a “significant gap” in access to appropriate care.
The Challenges with Current Algorithms
The group highlighted that existing disease risk algorithms used by healthcare professionals to determine treatment options are based on gender-specific metrics, such as body weight and kidney function. Due to a lack of evidence on whether trans patients should be evaluated based on their lived gender or their gender assigned at birth, these algorithms could result in trans patients receiving inappropriate care, such as incorrect medication dosages.
Dr. Michael Niman, a junior NHS doctor and chair of the Trans Gap Project, emphasized that patient autonomy is impaired for trans and gender-diverse patients when using scores that have not considered their specific needs. Clinicians currently face uncertainty regarding the best clinical practices for these scenarios due to a lack of evidence-based guidance.
Addressing the Trans Gap in Healthcare
Trans patients often face barriers in accessing appropriate medical care, with some clinicians downplaying the need for further research into the trans community’s medical experiences. However, Dr. Niman argued that the Trans Gap Project’s investigation of medical algorithms is crucial to address these disparities.
So far, the Trans Gap Project has conducted several studies into gender-based algorithms. The next stage of their research involves surveying trans individuals about their experiences with the NHS. Dorian Wolfe, a medical student and social media lead for the project, highlighted the importance of creating a more inclusive and better-informed healthcare space for the trans community.
A Call for Improved Trans Healthcare
The NHS has been urged to enhance healthcare for trans people in the UK. Activists at the Transgender Action Block (TAB) have called for action to address long waiting lists for trans masculine bottom surgery, which they describe as “deadly.” TAB stated that the NHS’s response to the situation has been inadequate, with over 1,000 people on the masculinizing genital surgery waiting list being denied access to vital healthcare.