How Open are Indian Hospitals to the LGBT Community?
If you belong to the LGBT community in India, the chances of a hospital visit or stay being traumatic are pretty high. While there’s a section of medical professionals that is queer-friendly, there is still a sizeable number of doctors, nurses and others in healthcare who aren’t open to LGBT and are disapproving of the community. In a country where the regressive Section 377 has been imposed and much-debated upon, we talk to medical professionals and members of the LGBT community to find out how friendly hospitals here are towards queer people.
SUKHDEEP SINGH,
Founder and editor-in-chief, Gaylaxy magazine
Hospitals in India are not at LGBT friendly at all. Most of the time, members of the community have a harrowing time when they try to access healthcare here. The experience also varies from L,G, B and T, but it’s mostly negative. Most transgender people face a distressing experience when they have to be admitted to a hospital, especially if they are HIV-infected. They have to face double the stigma — one of being HIV-positive and the other of being a transgender. The doctors and nurses are confused whether to admit them into a male or a female ward. When they’re admitted to a male ward, they don’t want to be there and object, so they’re shifted to a female ward. But other female patients object, so a lot of time is wasted during emergency cases on deciding where to put them. Doctors, nurses and hospital staff are often not sensitized in dealing with LGBT people and are often homophobic/ transphobic. For instance, when a homosexual woman goes to a gynecologist, the latter assumes that they are heterosexual. So, the diagnosis begins on a wrong premise. At a recent panel discussion, a lesbian woman was sharing her experience of going to a gynecologist who asked her about her male partners. When she revealed her sexuality, the gynecologist refused to treat her!
A friend of mine had a urine infection, went to the doctor and had to reveal his sexuality. And then, the doctor told him to stop having sex with men. He could’ve advised him if it was an infection related to sex and made him aware of safe sex. Most LGBT people are not out about their sexuality. But when they visit a doctor, depending on their ailment, they are forced to disclose their sexuality. With all the negative remarks and treatment, they hesitate to access healthcare facilities and end up self-treating or asking around among friends.
Accessing mental healthcare is difficult too. A lot of them are not able to grapple with their identity and are depressed because of this. But some doctors, instead of addressing the core issues start prescribing antidepressants.Sometimes, LGBT members are forced to go to a psychiatrist by their family members; who tell them to change their sexual identity, prescribe shock therapy etc. There are alternate medicine doctors who openly claim that they can treat and change a person’s sexual orientation. If a psychiatrist himself or herself is stating that this is a fad and is adapted from Western culture, then it’s a huge trauma for the patient. This makes it more difficult for LGBT people to explain their situation to their parents and lead a normal life.
Dr. SANGEETA SAKSENA,
Gynecologist and Co-Founder, Enfold Proactive Health Trust
I learnt about sexual orientation and gender identity only after graduating from Medical College in Bangalore. As a medical doctor I knew only about intersex, because that is the only thing that we were taught about. It’s anatomical and embryological, so a gynecologist can see it and then decide what is supposed to be done. We were not taught anything about transgenders. There is a strong need for inclusion of this education in MBBS and in our MD courses. I’ve seen fellow gynecologists be derisive of transgender people and homosexuality. If this is how doctors think, then imagine what he/she might be telling a child in the family. Thanks to this mentality, transgender people have about 5 to 10 times increased risk of suicide in the US. In the Indian population, the general suicide rate is 4% and among transgenders, it is 41%. In the medical profession and the nursing profession, there is a strong need for sensitization. On a positive note, the Indian Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched the Saathiya kit and has brought out a statement that homosexuality is normal and that this should be taught to adolescents as well.
ARNAV SRINIVASAN,
Senior Market Analyst & LGBT member
I identify as a female to male non-operated transgender and I prefer to be non-operated.Unfortunately, we are still discriminated against. I faced an extremely harrowing experience at a well-known medical centre a few years ago, which has made me skeptical of future hospital visits, especially if it’s a gynecologist. If I do have to visit a doctor, I go to a local clinic where they identify me as a woman because I’m in a female body. It’s high time to think beyond the binary when a patient’s name, age and gender are being made note of. I feel like the awareness about how to treat the LGBT community should be spread across doctors, clinics as well as hospitals. Healthcare should be inclusive for all.
Looking at the positive side, one of my friends got a surgery done in MS Ramaiah, which has a separate transgender ward. The price was lesser and the hospital also had good amenities. But when I ask my friend about how much the doctor knew about F to M or M to F, he said that the physician was aware of m to M, but did not know much about f to M. Nut at least, he was open to understand things. I recently got my dental check-up done and for the first time, I went to a clinic near my house and in the register, I wrote my given name and in brackets I wrote ‘Arnav.’ So the doctor asked me what that was about and I assumed that she was going to be anti-LGBT as well. I openly told her about my identity and she gave me a strange look. I also had a pride band on my wrist and she questioned me about it. Thankfully, during the second sitting, she was very open and started referring to me as a ‘he’ I could see a shift in her thinking.So whenever I have a check-up, I go there because she is inclusive of LGBT people.
Dr. NARENDRANATH,
Chief Administrator, MS Ramaiah Medical College Hospital
We have created a separate ward for transgenders, a community that is usually looked down upon. We decided to give this issue importance and created a an exclusive space for them so that they feel comfortable. I don’t think any other private or government hospital in India has a separate ward for transgenders. Ever since we started this facility, the number of patients who have been coming in from that area has increased. We started the ward about four years back. Having a transgender ward can create a lot of change — earlier, it used to be really difficult for the transgender community because they didn’t feel comfortable — approachability and privacy were the two important factors to be considered. If the patient was rich, they could always go to a single room, but for most of the transgenders, it wasn’t affordable and they preferred the general ward. But then it would get difficult as we had to choose between the male and female ward. Trans people who visit our hospital now feel that we are giving them the required importance. It helps that people are talking about it, the doctors identify them and sometimes, they’re also given a special concession.
Author : Ikyatha Yerasala
Ikyatha Yerasala is a consulting correspondent who brings with her a varied experience in interviewing some very interesting people — from sports stars to actors and artistes. A true blue Bangalorean, she’s passionate about women’s rights, music, cricket, movies and rasagullas. She hopes to see more research focusing on invisible illnesses.
