Gender identity, treatment of migrant children & more: AMA releases 5 new policies

The American Medical Association adopted five new policies on emerging healthcare topics during the voting session of its interim meeting.

Here are the details of the five new policies adopted:

1. The medical spectrum of gender. The AMA voted to affirm the medical spectrum of gender and the individual's right to determine their stated gender identity.

"Sex and gender are more complex than previously assumed," said AMA Board Member William E. Kobler, MD, in a release. "It is essential to acknowledge that an individual’s gender identity may not align with the sex assigned to them at birth. A narrow limit on the definition of sex would have public health consequences for the transgender population and individuals born with differences in sexual differentiation, also known as intersex traits."

2. The integrity of public health data collection. The AMA committed to advocating for the collection of demographic data in federal and state surveys that is inclusive of gender and sexual identity. The AMA policy includes the United States Census, the Current Population Survey and the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants, among others.

3. Opposing the detention of migrant children. The AMA opposes policies separating migrant children from their families. The policy opposes the administration of psychotropic drugs without parental permission or court order.

"The AMA supports the humane treatment of all undocumented children, and advocates for regular, unannounced auditing of the medical conditions and services provided at all detention facilities," Dr. Kobler said in a release. "These audits should be conducted by independent experts in the care of vulnerable children."

4. Access to identification cards for the homeless population. The AMA recognizes that lack of identification is a major barrier to homeless individuals seeking medical care. Delegates approved a resolution supporting legislative changes that would simplify and reduce or eliminate the cost of obtaining identification cards.

5. Increasing patient access to sexual assault medical examinations. The AMA adopted new policies encouraging more emergency departments to have access to sexual assault emergency nurse examiners. The AMA also calls for HIV testing and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to be offered to all survivors of sexual assault within 72 hours of a substantial exposure risk.

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