One children’s hospital in the United States recently removed the gender markers from their patient wristbands. The Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado made the news known last Sept. 20 when they announced it on their official Twitter account.
The move is aligned with the hospital’s gender diversity task force, the TRUE (Trust, Respect, Understand, Emerge) Center for Gender Diversity. The TRUE Center aims to support gender-diverse children, adolescents and young adults in their journey, whatever it may be, by offering a safe space where they can converge.
“We specialize in helping our patients achieve the gender expression that’s right for them,” wrote the TRUE Center on their website. “We understand the medicines and medical concerns that go into gender transitions, but we also understand the emotional challenges that go with gender diversity.”
We've removed #gender markers from patient wristbands and more. See how else we support our #transgender and #nonbinary patients at our hospital: https://t.co/XpshzXg4oz #TransHealth #LGBTHealth pic.twitter.com/e3m6WvQ7CK
— Children's Hospital Colorado (@ChildrensColo) September 20, 2018
Twitter users have since given their own take on the hospital’s approach. Their latest move wasn’t taken very well by some netizens as they were criticized for omitting the gender on the wristbands.
“Male or female are very important distinctions when administering care,” wrote a certain Josh (@jonzy83) on Sept. 25. “Omitting that information is as careless as omitting allergy information.”
Male or female are very important distinctions when administering care. Omitting that information is as careless as omitting allergy information.
— Josh Jones (@jonzy83) September 25, 2018
Another told the hospital that gender is irrelevant when it comes to treating patients.
“What a medication institution you are,” wrote one Ina (@ina_sback) last Sept. 23. “Gender is irrelevant for treating patients. Wrist bands (sic) have their objective, deterministic, innate, immutable sex, indispensable for treating patients…”
https://twitter.com/ina_sback/status/1043599852091760641
The children’s hospital has since replied to the tweets to explain the rationale behind the move.
“Patient name, medical record number and date of birth [are] the essential info on the ID wristband,” wrote the Children’s Colorado in defense last Sept. 25. “Male or female was removed, but this and other pertinent medical information [are] contained in patients’ medical records.”
“A full assessment concluded patient safety is not impacted.”
Patient name, medical record number and date of birth is the essential info on the ID wristband. Male or female was removed, but this and other pertinent medical information is contained in patients’ medical records. A full assessment concluded patient safety is not impacted.
— Children's Hospital Colorado (@ChildrensColo) September 24, 2018
But while the online responses weren’t as positive, the news still stands as monumental to some of those who are directly concerned. As per 9News last Sept. 20, Ben, a teenager who has been going to the Children’s Hospital Colorado for the past two years, couldn’t be any happier over the news. Ben identifies as a transman.
“It’s huge. Bigger than anything on this planet,” Ben was quoted as saying. “Looking down and seeing that ‘F’ (Female), I’m just like ‘no. That’s not right.'”
For Ben, the gender marker is one thing he no longer has to worry about. Cody Cepeda/NVG
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