Woman who gave birth demanded to be called “Dad” – reports discrimination

Published 17 June 2024 at 14.56

Domestic. A woman who claims to be “transman” was nevertheless called “mother” in the medical record after giving birth. Now the Discrimination Ombudsman, DO, Region Sörmland, reports Södermanland's Nyheter.

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In connection with the birth at the Nyköping hospital, the staff at the hospital respected the woman's request to be called “father”, and a note that the woman was actually a man was on the delivery room's whiteboard.

Despite that, the woman is described as “mother” on two occasions in the medical record, something she feels is offensive.

The woman has also responded to a survey she received via 1177 after giving birth. The survey was aimed at “pregnant women and new mothers”, which she also considers to be discriminatory.

The Discrimination Ombudsman (DO) is now investigating the case, and according to SN, it is the first time that they have dealt with a case involving the words “mom and dad”. Earlier this year, however, the DO condemned two regions for having “misgendered” patients in other ways.

“Fixed in the idea that a mother is a mother”
Marie Bennermo, the region's director of patient safety, is self-critical.

– We must be open to the changes that society is in. It may be that we are stuck in the idea that a mother is a mother, and a a father is a father, she tells Södermanland's Nyheter.

Peter Sidlund Ponkala, chairman of RFSL, emphasizes the importance of respecting people's identities in care. He suggests that gender-neutral terms could be used, such as “person who gave birth”, to include everyone.