Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So, I've been on T for over three years, top surgery almost 3 years, and I have a physical.  They said it takes about an hour.  An hour??

I would really like to not tell them, and if/when they went to do the hernia check, if I could refuse it or ask them if they could do it by pushing around the stomach area instead.

I will have insurance from this employment.  Should I just tell them?  It's confidential, right?  Will the employer somehow obtain this information?  Or could I tell them, but ask them to not write it down?

I think you should be honest with the doctor so they can do a proper physical. All they need to tell your prospective employer is that you passed the physical. Just my thoughts.

if they do a one hour physical, I would just tell them. They will find out. Trust me...a one hour physical is very "involving." I've had a few. They'll find out your birth gender.

And yes, it is very confidential. I do not even think the Physical Nurse is allowed to tell your HR

The job is in a hospital.  And it's being done there, if that matters.

Quote from: stenomaster on December 13, 2012, 02:27:24 PM
The job is in a hospital.  And it's being done there, if that matters.

I think doctor patient privacy still applies, but I am not positive. Sorry.

I only think they can disclose physical exam information if it pertains to the confliction of any "on the job duties".

With the HIPPI law now anyone who says anything about what is on any medical record is for big problems, could even be fired.

Keeping that a secret from professionals just doesn't happen.
They don't even have to see your surgery scars or your junk to know that you aren't a cis-male.
Just seeing your basic anatomy, anyone who knows enough about it will pick up on things even when you're fully clothed,
It's just the way life works for us, unfortunately.
I have no idea what the laws about physical exam information is though.

I had to get a pre-employment physical done a few months ago.  Granted I'm MTF and not full time however I go have some growth uptop.. so when the doctor came in before anything he had asked about any medications I was taking and I saw that as the opportunity to disclose my trans status to him.  I also asked if he had to report it to the employer and he said no, the concerns were if anything I was taking would impair my ability to work at the job.  Since none of the meds I take did, there was no reason for him to list them and he also stated that he was not able to tell the employer about me being trans.  So all in all, you're safe because when the door is closed and it's you and the doc the conversation doesn't leave that room.

Quote from: GentlemanRDP on December 14, 2012, 10:12:08 AM
Keeping that a secret from professionals just doesn't happen.
They don't even have to see your surgery scars or your junk to know that you aren't a cis-male.
Just seeing your basic anatomy, anyone who knows enough about it will pick up on things even when you're fully clothed,
It's just the way life works for us, unfortunately.
I have no idea what the laws about physical exam information is though.

He could just say that he have had hormone problems if they ask. It's really simple.

Quote from: GentlemanRDP on December 14, 2012, 10:12:08 AM
Keeping that a secret from professionals just doesn't happen.
They don't even have to see your surgery scars or your junk to know that you aren't a cis-male.
Just seeing your basic anatomy, anyone who knows enough about it will pick up on things even when you're fully clothed,
It's just the way life works for us, unfortunately.
I have no idea what the laws about physical exam information is though.

I'm sorry, but I disagree, especially since everyone isn't built the same.
Maybe you have a feminine shape and people can identify you on it, but it's not fair to impose the expectations of being automatically identified on others just because things might've worked that way for you.

^ Yep. I've been stealth through a (non-invasive) physical, where a nurse palpated my organs and listened to my heart, and this was even when I still had to wear a binder. It was a pre-requisite for donating plasma. I'm at the donation center a lot, surrounded by nurses and phlebotomists and all manner of "professionals." My ID said male and that's how they put me down. I've been going for exactly a year, and one year ago I looked way different than I do now, but it hasn't registered as weird with anyone. At the core of it, people are just people and if you say you're male and you at least vaguely look and sound like it and you're confident in your gender, it's not going to blip anyone's radar.

Also was recently at the ER after splashing oil on my eyes. Sometimes they'll pull your health records up when you check in, and it'll have your birth sex on there if you haven't changed it yet. But they didn't do that at this hospital. I just briefly explained why I was there and they printed me off a bracelet with an M. So even at a hospital, around trained professionals, nobody questioned that I was male.

Quote from: Sparrowhawke on December 14, 2012, 10:44:25 AM
He could just say that he have had hormone problems if they ask. It's really simple.

true but it's difficult to explain a feminine physique and hips to a hormone problem.

Plus if you say you have hormone problems then you will probably open another can of worms to deal with...because it is a job physical and I think a doctor will know the difference between hormone issues and a physique of a cis female.

Quote from: Annah on December 14, 2012, 05:45:58 PM
true but it's difficult to explain a feminine physique and hips to a hormone problem.

Plus if you say you have hormone problems then you will probably open another can of worms to deal with...because it is a job physical and I think a doctor will know the difference between hormone issues and a physique of a cis female.

Why? Hormones is what makes your physique.

I'm not a cis dude and I have a physique like one. Once my hip fat relocated to my stomach, it turned out that my hips were about the same size as the average cis dude. On the other hand, I have a cis dude friend with legitimate birthing hips. His bones are very wide down there, and he's never really had any issues. Not everyone's body is the same, you know?

To the OP, just speak with the doctor performing the physical when you get to the parts you feel may "out" you. You have the right to request that your birth sex be held from your employers. It's not relevant, nor does it make you incapable of performing work at a hospital, as far as I know. The doctor must abide by HIPPA standards or they will face severe punishment.

Quote from: Sparrowhawke on December 14, 2012, 10:44:25 AM
He could just say that he have had hormone problems if they ask. It's really simple.

I don't think they should even say that much. It's not relevant to the job.

Quote from: Sparrowhawke on December 14, 2012, 06:13:30 PM
Why? Hormones is what makes your physique.

Hormones barely altars the physical parameters of the body in terms of hips, butt, and the general silhouette of a body.

Yes, hormones can do wonders for some FTM but Ive seen a lot more FTM on hormones who still struggles with the hips, small hands, feet and small upper waist. We MTF has the same issues with the larger waist, small hips, feet, shoulders, and hands.

Don't get me wrong, hormones can do a lot and it can do a lot but hormones don't fix everything...and it's things a medical doctor may notice that others may not notice.

But as I said in my first post, it really isn't a big deal. The physical is confidential. I wouldn't worry about it.

It ended up not being invasive at all.  Not like a normal one.  There was just a few nurses there.  I ended up telling one because of the paperwork that asks if you've had surgeries and medications and if you're under a doctor's care and what for.  So it wasn't a big deal.

And I'm one of those who doesn't have a "cis female physique", so I could've gotten away with it, probably.

Sounds good. When do you start the new job?

I probably still wouldn't have disclosed, myself. If they want to know about the surgery, it was "cosmetic," and if they want to know about my meds, I have low T.

Quote from: stenomaster on December 14, 2012, 11:46:53 PM
It ended up not being invasive at all.  Not like a normal one.  There was just a few nurses there.  I ended up telling one because of the paperwork that asks if you've had surgeries and medications and if you're under a doctor's care and what for.  So it wasn't a big deal.

And I'm one of those who doesn't have a "cis female physique", so I could've gotten away with it, probably.

congratulations on your new job! And I am very happy your physical went well :)