BOLZANO - A transgender rights organization denounced a doctor, who was not named, for allegedly refusing a transgender woman a blood test due to the practitioner’s personal opinion on  hormonal  therapy, “I'm sorry, but you have to look for another doctor to prescribe this therapy and these tests” to which he added “In my opinion, hormonal therapy of this type and all the consequent interventions are not beneficial for health, therefore I refuse to prescribe them.”

 The prescription of the blood test and hormonal therapy had initially been prescribed by an endocrine specialist. President of the Provincial Ethics Committee, Herbert Heidegger, said   “The opinion of the specialist prevails: it will be up to him to evaluate the possible side effects. The general practitioner, then, must help the patient appropriately.”

 Arianna Fiumefreddo Director of the transgender rights organization, Centaurus Arcigay, that unveiled the fact, said “There is no conscientious objection for the therapies of transgender people … Trans people are too often confronted with moral rather than scientific assessments, and too many professionals still today intend to hinder the right to health and the human right to the recognition of gender identity. We urgently ask for a meeting with the director of the Healthcare Company not only to clarify this situation, but to understand what measures the ASL ( Local Health Agency) wants to take to really guarantee the right and non-discriminatory access to health for trans people in Alto Adige.”

 The doctor did not release any further statement. He was reported by the non-profit organization to the Healthcare Company, the Anti-Discrimination Protection Center and the Italian Register of Physicians who will further examine the case.

 fp