Should all family physicians provide gender-affirming primary care?

Thea Weisdorf; Andrew J. Organek; Hali Bauld

doi:10.46747/cfp.6906415

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RE: Another Role for Family Physicians
David Zitner

Published on: 15 June 2023

Published on: (15 June 2023)
Page navigation anchor for RE: Another Role for Family Physicians
RE: Another Role for Family Physicians
David Zitner, Retired Family Physician, Dalhousie University and Chair of CURAC Health Care Policy Committee
RE: SHOULD ALL GENDER FAMILY PHYSICIANS PROVIDE GENDER-AFFIRMING PRIMARY CARE, Vol 69, June 2023, Page 45 Thea Weisdorf et al.

I appreciated the thoughtful article by Drs. Weisdorf and Organek because they recognize that Family Physicians are responsible for providing caring, compassionate and thoughtful advice when research is incomplete. Their ideas empowers family doctors and their patients by suggesting that family doctors are skilled in looking for and interpreting research related to conditions that might be uncommon or beyond their immediate experience.

Care for transgender and gender diverse people (TGD) is complicated by the absence of definitive research that answers answer important questions. We know that many people benefit from aggressive gender modifying treatments, while others suffer and change their mind. Research is lacking that identifies the characteristics of those most likely to benefit and those most likely to be harmed by aggressive medical and surgical treatments that alter the appearance and function of TGD patients. One role for family doctors, not mentioned in the article, is to participate in formal, well designed natural studies that track the outcomes of people who receive, or do not receive, gender interventions. Of course, this surveillance role also applies to other issues where the research literature is incomplete.

David Zitner, MA, MD., FCFP
Retired Professor, Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine

Competing Interests: None declared.