Study Finds 1 in 5 Non-Binary People Are Denied Proper Access to Healthcare

A new study has found non-binary people are being turned away from proper healthcare.

The study, Persons of Nonbinary Gender — Awareness, Visibility, and Health Disparities, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, urges medical professionals to improve the care of non-binary and gender non-conforming people.

“As our society’s concept of gender evolves, so does the visibility of contemporary nonbinary people,” the paper states.

“Yet many members of the medical community may not know how to interact with nonbinary patients respectfully or recognize their unique needs and barriers to care.”

The study found 19 percent of non-binary people were refused medical care because of their gender identity, while 22 percent avoided seeking medical attention out of fear of discrimination.

“Our findings really highlight that there’s a lot of scepticism and hesitancy around nonbinary and gender nonconforming patients to engage with healthcare professionals,” said one of the report’s authors, Walter Liszewski, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School Dermatology Resident.

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