Medical ethics are guidelines that govern the conduct of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and allied health workers. They dictate how these individuals must treat their patients, both during treatment and after it is completed. Medical ethics typically focus on issues such as patient confidentiality, informed consent, the right to refuse treatment, and the duty to provide care that does no harm.
They often fail to address more nuanced aspects of medical care, such as non-binary understandings of embodiment and identity. In this article, I will explore how medical ethics can evolve to include non-binary understandings of embodiment and identity.
Non-Binary Embodiments
Non-binary embodiments refer to individuals who do not identify exclusively as male or female. Instead, they may identify as both genders or neither gender. These individuals may have genitalia that fall outside of traditional definitions of "male" or "female," and they may experience discomfort or distress when forced into binary categories. Some common examples of non-binary identities include agender, bigender, demigender, genderfluid, and pangender. As society becomes more accepting of diverse identities, there has been a growing need for medical providers to respect non-binary individuals' bodies and experiences.
One way medical ethics could evolve to accommodate non-binary embodiments is by allowing providers to use neutral pronouns when referring to patients. This would include using words like "they/them/their" instead of "he/him/his" or "she/her/hers." Providers should also avoid making assumptions about a patient's gender based on their physical appearance or name.
If a patient presents with ambiguous genitalia, providers should refrain from assuming that the individual identifies as male or female.
Another way medical ethics could evolve is by recognizing that some non-binary individuals may prefer different types of medical treatment than cisgender (non-trans) individuals.
Some trans men may choose hormone therapy to grow breasts while others may choose to bind them to appear more masculine. Similarly, some trans women may choose to take testosterone to deepen their voice while others may prefer speech therapy. Medical professionals should be open to these differences and work with patients to develop individualized treatment plans that align with their goals.
Non-Binary Identities
Non-binary identities refer to individuals who do not identify exclusively as male or female but instead see themselves as occupying multiple genders simultaneously. These identities can encompass a wide range of experiences and expressions, including androgyny, intersex, and two-spirit identities. As with non-binary embodiment, society has become increasingly accepting of diverse identities, and there has been a growing need for healthcare providers to respect non-binary individuals' identities.
One way medical ethics could evolve to accommodate non-binary identities is by allowing providers to use neutral language when referring to patients. This would include using words like "they/them/their" instead of "he/him/his" or "she/her/hers." Providers should also avoid making assumptions about a patient's gender based on their physical appearance or name.
Providers should educate themselves on the various non-binary identities that exist and how they might manifest in clinical settings.
Another way medical ethics could evolve is by recognizing that non-binary individuals may experience unique challenges when navigating healthcare systems.
Many non-binary individuals face discrimination and stigma from healthcare providers, leading them to delay or avoid seeking care altogether. To address this issue, healthcare providers should provide educational resources to staff members about non-binary identities and ensure that non-binary individuals feel comfortable accessing services.
Medical ethics have traditionally focused on binary concepts of sex and gender, but they must adapt to meet the needs of modern society. By incorporating non-binary understandings of embodiment and identity into existing guidelines, we can create more inclusive and equitable healthcare systems that serve all individuals equally. Non-binary individuals deserve access to high-quality care tailored to their unique experiences and needs.
How can medical ethics evolve to include non-binary understandings of embodiment and identity?
Medical ethics is a broad field that encompasses many different perspectives on how healthcare professionals should interact with their patients. One important aspect of this field is the way in which doctors and other healthcare providers view gender and sexuality. While traditional Western medicine has historically treated gender as a binary system (male/female), recent advances in science have shown us that this is not always accurate.