A 20-year-old patient who is a transgender man, comes to a public, secular hospital seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) testosterone treatment as part of his gender transition. The assigned provider doesn’t participate in any procedures that could lead to sterilization due to his sincerely held religious beliefs.

Offer an additional introspective question this provider could consider to help him communicate his conscientious refusal to this patient with respect.

You may note that there is some intersection/overlap between the ACTION and the RESPONSE in this case.

What should the provider say to respond respectfully to the patient’s requested treatment? *

Let me suggest some alternatives that I think would be better for you.

I’m not able to provide this treatment (because of my religious beliefs).

Only God can determine what a person’s gender is, and I do not support any treatment that would change a person’s sex assigned at birth.

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Course: Navigating Conscience Objections in Health Care

Personal Conscience Case Study #2: RESPOND