Paramedics

[BigMcLargeHuge]

I'm afraid that if I get into a car wreck or something, the paramedics/nurses/ER docs will laugh at me instead of treating me because I'm fat and I wear men's clothing. I wish I could show you the blog by the ER nurse who did things like that (she was especially ->-bleeped-<-ty to trans women) but she took it down (can't imagine why).

I've heard stories about fat women and trans people being left to die because the EMTs thought it was just so very funny.

[Damara]

I actually have this same fear. I've heard similar accounts.. quite deplorable. You'd think medical professionals could look past an "issue" such as a pre-op/non op trans person. One reason why I can wait to start and finish my transition as quickly as possible!

[Frank]

I have this fear, in addition to what could happen if I'm sent to jail or prison. That is, always assuming I make it to prison. There's a very real possibility of just being shot or beaten outright. People who say, "If you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear" irritate me. To a lot of people, we're wrong just for existing.

[immortal gypsy]

Hopefully this will calm some fears. Thank you NSW Ambulance Service and the NSW Hospital's Emergency Department.

After being found unconsious after a seizure, emergency personel found my 'E' in my backpack. After they made sure I had told my neuro (cross sex hormones and epilepsy can make life "fun" at times), and that they where prescribed. That was the end of the matter.

My discharce report states:
among other things
Male to female transexual
On estrogen therapy

So yeah nothing but good things to say

[StrykerXIII]

I'm a little more worried about being trans resulting in me needing paramedics than in what the paramedics themselves will do...I happen to patrol a few law offices that I'm sure would be willing to help if first responders decided to act like doucherockets.

[Felix]

I have this fear, and my solution is to stay in the most urban areas I can afford, and to be as locally visible as possible. Even people who don't recognize me on the street can find me in police databases and contact lists for political organizations. My health problems and trans status are obvious to workers with access to computers in any of the regional health systems.

I expect to get treated like crap, but if I get treated too much like crap there will be serious PR repercussions for whoever is doing it.

Most of the time, though, it really doesn't matter what your details are. Emergency personnel usually do their jobs and what you look like or how you dress doesn't bother them.

[Jessica Merriman]

I can say with complete authority that if you are injured in my State (Oklahoma) you will be cared for in a prompt and professional manner by ANY public Safety official. How do I know this? I am a retired Emergency Services Specialist myself. With the litigious society we have seem to become internal affairs or investigative departments are under intense pressure to find the bad apples in the system and deal with them most of the time BEFORE they are hired. Standards are high all across the U.S. and training is better than it has ever been. You will always find bad seeds out there at restaurants, retail establishments or any other job setting. In dealing with hospitals I can assure you the HIPA laws are enforced and the same professional standards apply down to the kitchen staff, transportation, etc. The people I have seen like you have been describing have been dealt with quickly and efficiently here at times being charged with the appropriate crime. Please do not categorize ALL public safety officials due to the acts of a few as most are honorable and in the career for the right reason.

[GnomeKid]

This is also a great fear of mine... One of the many reasons I'm trying to get this phallo thing done asap

[Contravene]

It's a shame someone didn't get the IP address from that nurse's blog then track her down and report her.

I've worried about this sort of stuff too, like getting laughed at or mistreated if I'm in some sort of accident and the paramedics find me wearing a packer. I trust that if anything did happen to me though my girlfriend would be informed and at least be present at the hospital to make sure I'm being treated right there.

[palexander]

there will always be people who are close minded and immature, but the world is also progressing. i had to go to urgent care on the 17th and was treated just like everyone else. my mom briefly explained that i have a birth name, but i go by another. the 'f' is still there, yet no one thought anything of it. when i had to say that i was on t the nurses didn't treat me differently. the fear of not being accepted is common for any trans person, but just remember there will always be people who accept it and those who don't.

[Bimmer Guy]

there will always be people who are close minded and immature, but the world is also progressing. i had to go to urgent care on the 17th and was treated just like everyone else. my mom briefly explained that i have a birth name, but i go by another. the 'f' is still there, yet no one thought anything of it. when i had to say that i was on t the nurses didn't treat me differently. the fear of not being accepted is common for any trans person, but just remember there will always be people who accept it and those who don't.

I think it really depends on where you live.  If you live in an a progressive area, there is less chance of you being treated poorly.  If in a less progressive area, you may be treated very poorly.  I think there is also a luck of the draw factor, too (the level of transphobia in the specific healthcare worker who is attending to you).  I think it also helps if you have a person with you, just like it does in any medical situation. 

It sucks being at people's mercy for kindness.

[BigMcLargeHuge]

I live in the pale-ass belly of the Bible Belt. Hence why I worry.

But I'm glad to see I'm not the only one (sort of. I wish none of us were afraid) but anyway it's nice to know I'm not alone.

... at what point do I get to stop answering riddles every time I want to make a post?

[Adam (birkin)]

The thought has crossed my mind. But I also know that there are a lot of medical professionals who take their jobs very seriously and adhere to a sort of moral code about it all. I just hope that if it comes to that, I get one of the honorable ones instead of the bad ones.

[palexander]

I think it really depends on where you live.  If you live in an a progressive area, there is less chance of you being treated poorly.  If in a less progressive area, you may be treated very poorly.  I think there is also a luck of the draw factor, too (the level of transphobia in the specific healthcare worker who is attending to you).  I think it also helps if you have a person with you, just like it does in any medical situation. 

It sucks being at people's mercy for kindness.

i live in a really conservative area, so i was pretty surprised.

[lewis]

Signed up to a new doctors surgery last week and was given a quick check-up at my first appointment, which I hadn't really expected. The top of my trunks were visible when the doctor lifted my shirt up a bit to stick a stethoscope under. She acknowledged what she'd seen, but didn't make an issue of it. I'd just told her I'm trans, so it probably wasn't a huge surprise. Seemed really professional, but I do worry a bit about what someone who hadn't been warned first would make of it.

[dirtywhiteboy21]

I attempted to hang myself and the paramedics just cut off my clothes and put me on life support and I'm from West Virginia. I wouldn't worry about paramedics not helping you. They'll help. Don't worry.


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[camron]

I attempted to hang myself and the paramedics just cut off my clothes and put me on life support and I'm from West Virginia.



Glad they did and you're here talking to us today.

Camron

[palexander]

I attempted to hang myself and the paramedics just cut off my clothes and put me on life support and I'm from West Virginia. I wouldn't worry about paramedics not helping you. They'll help. Don't worry.


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i'm from west virginia as well!

i had to go again for my elbow (but to a different place) and everyone was really great. i wasn't treated differently or anything

[BioS]

I work as a CNA and am currently going for my RN/LPN. In the healthcare setting there is a lot of behind the scenes conversation that goes on. Most of it is either completely professional or personal. Occasionally we will discuss clients, patients, or other things. But where I'm from it is illegal to give names or descriptive information about anyone. If you were in the hospital and I saw your mother on the street, it would be illegal for me to discuss your current condition with her. All health personal are considered 'Mandated Reporters'. Which means if we see anything; Physical, emotional, or verbal abuse or neglect of any kind we have to report it or we can be fired and have our licenses terminated and never be allowed to work in any setting which deals with public health ever again.

And laughing at someone I can only assume is an immediate termination. It's also illegal to discriminate for any reason in the state I live in, and I may ignorantly assume it is the same for every state, but it darn well should be. I hear more negative and bigoted comments from the clients and patients then I ever have any members of staff.

You may be looking at things from too negative of a light.

We're here to help you. Regardless of your gender, skin color, orientation, or religious beliefs. The farthest thing from my mind when I'm taking care of someone is what their personal business is. Their physical needs are most important and I need to focus on that.

I honestly believe you don't need to worry about anything, and you should never hesitate to get or call for help in a medical emergency because other human beings may not be mature and level headed enough to handle a situation. Just keep in mind, if you think someone is laughing or pointing fun at you or might do so, you're brighter than them. Regardless of what happens. Because you would never do such a thing and they have or may stoop to a lower form of cognitive processing. :3 (I.E. They're stupid and ignorant and possibly will always stay that way while you cruise along the information and education of life highway. ^^)

[LordKAT]

I have both good and bad experiences with paramedics. They are just people,and as such, both good and bad.