Beyond the Clipboard: How Trans Women Refused Care Face Health Risks

For transgender people, healthcare barriers create serious effects. When clinics refuse trans women care, this creates more than just emotional distress, it leads to dangerous delays in treatment. One documented case involves a transgender man who faced multiple rejections from gynecologists before finally receiving care after a year-long search. He was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“I find it incredibly alarming that I have all the tools to navigate healthcare, and I still almost died because of discrimination,” he shared. His experience shows how refusals to provide care without proper referrals can put patients at risk. Research shows this is not a rare problem. A recent study found that nearly 25% of transgender people avoided needed medical visits due to fear of mistreatment. Among those who did seek care, almost half reported negative experiences with healthcare providers.