Looking for a Doctor to Write a Letter

[Persephone]

I'm looking at the new State Department guidelines for gender change. I want to use those guidelines as a model for other purposes.

According to The National Center for Transgender Equality (http://transequality.org/Resources/passports_2012.pdf) what is needed is a letter like the following:

I, (physician’s full name), (physician’s medical license or certificate number), (issuing U.S. State/Foreign Country of medical license/certificate), (DEA Registration number or comparable foreign designation), am the physician of (name of patient), with whom I have a doctor/patient relationship and whom I have treated (or with whom I have a doctor/patient relationship and whose medical history I have reviewed and evaluated).

(Name of patient) has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender (specify new gender male or female).

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct.

Signature
Typed Name
Date

Transgender Equality goes on to state, "No specific treatment is required, and details of your treatment need not be provided. In fact, NCTE encourages you and your doctor to only state in the letter that you have had the clinical treatment determined by your health care providers to be appropriate. Details about surgery, hormone treatment, or other treatments are unnecessary and not helpful."

If someone knows a doctor here in the Los Angeles area who is known to be willing to perform an evaluation and write such a letter, I would really appreciate it if you would PM me with your information about the doctor.

Thank You!

Hugs,
Persephone.

[CharleneT]

I think it depends on what you want to do with said letter ? I don't know that many docs will it without having had you as a patient for a while.

[Michelle.M]

Um, the idea is that the part where it says "I am the physician of (name of patient)" is actually supposed to be true. Are you not under a doctor's care?

[Persephone]

Yes, I do have a physician, although she is not involved in any intentional gender treatment of me. The guidelines from the National Center for Transgender Equality indicate that it can be "a licensed physician with whom you have a doctor-patient relationship and who is familiar with your transition-related treatment. This may be any physician who is familiar with your treatment, including a primary care physician or specialist." The guidelines go on to say that the doctor can be one who has treated you or who has reviewed and evaluated your medical history.

Since I do not wish to involve either medicare nor my insurance company in my personal affairs more than they need to be, I would prefer to find an outside specialist who would review and evaluate my medical history.

Hugs,
Persephone.

[Michelle.M]

Yes, I do have a physician, although she is not involved in any intentional gender treatment of me.
Persephone.

But she has knowledge of your treatment? Perhaps she'd be willing to review the treatment you're undergoing and write the letter.

[Sandra1746]

Could you ask your primary care physician to write such a letter that you could then take to another service provider? They are licensed by the state and may be permitted to "consult" on the side. Or maybe you could ask your PCP for a referral to a physician 'out of network'. Asking their advice is probably a good idea anyhow, they will find out sooner or later if you choose that path.

Hugs and good luck,
Sandra1746

[CharleneT]

I'm confused, you want a letter stating that you have GID, but you do not want to ask the one doctor who knows the most about you ? I will suggest that honestly, complete honesty, is best with your primary care doc - other wise you are tying their hands behind their back.

[Eryn]

I think that Persephone's point is that the definition of "treatment" is intentionally vague. It could be surgery, HRT, or purely counseling. I can understand her reluctance to risk a good relationship with her primary care physicians simply to satisfy a paperwork requirement. It sounds like she needs to find a gender counseling service who can ascertain her GID status and generate the needed letter for her.

Yes, it is important to be honest with your primary care physician about those things that affect your treatment. One's gender identity is not necessarily their business.

[CharleneT]

That wording comes from the new guidelines for passports. The person signing the letter needs to be a doctor. It is not necessarily useful for other purposes, such as changing your Social Security gender, which requires a letter from your surgeon attesting to complete SRS/GRS.

[juno]

The part abut "has had appropriate clinical treatment" means treatement by a doctor, and that would be the person to do the letter. Just evaluating you does not equate to clinical treatment.

[Traci Elizabeth]

An open ended letter for no specific purpose? Huh! Smells a little...well you know!

[Kelsy]

An open ended letter for no specific purpose? Huh! Smells a little...well you know!

I agree -- why all of the deception!? My doctor would have no problem signing a letter like that because He is fully involved in my treatment and fully aware of my status! Secondly I don't believe anyone needs to know my private medical affairs but I really don't care if they do! No need to sneak around is there?

K