Gov't rejects request for guidelines on hospitalization of transgender people

▲ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Yonhap)

transgender people-hospitals

Gov't rejects request for guidelines on hospitalization of transgender people

SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Health and Welfare has refused to accept the state human rights watchdog's recommendation that guidelines be devised for the hospitalization of transgender people, the agency said Tuesday.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) made the recommendation early this year after receiving a petition from a trans woman who unsuccessfully tried to be hospitalized in a female ward two years earlier.

The trans woman wanted to be admitted to a Seoul university hospital in October 2021 due to drug allergy. But the person was informed she had to be hospitalized in a male ward because she was listed as male on the resident registration.

The petitioner, who had not undergone sex change surgery, eventually gave up hospitalization after arguing with the hospital and filed a complaint with the NHRCK, claiming discrimination based on gender identity.

The NHRCK said the petitioner was treated unfairly and recommended that separate guidelines are needed regarding transgender people's use of medical institutions.

Dismissing the watchdog's advice, however, the health ministry said there are limits to predicting the circumstances of all transgender people in advance and establishing guidelines.

"Establishing and recommending uniform guidelines for the use of hospital rooms for transgender people at all medical institutions across the country requires careful review based on social consensus," the ministry was quoted as saying.

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