We believe in radical transparency and empowerment.
We aim to offer information that is clear, up to date, informed by evidence-based studies as well as community knowledge. We provide information, answer questions, engage in conversations as members see fit. We aim to empower individuals to make decisions about their bodies and their lives from a clear and informed place.
This is how we aim to challenge pre-existing gatekeeper models, with actively engaging members in informed consent.
Informed Consent vs Gatekeeper Model
- Gatekeeper model: Patient has to undergo therapy or mental health evaluation to assess readiness/certainty for transition care. The ultimate decision here of whether or not a patient is a candidate for treatment rests with a therapist.
- Informed consent model: The medical prescriber of hormones provides the patient with clear information from a BRAIDED framework (benefits, risks, alternatives, inquiries and questions, decisions/able to change mind, explanations, documentation). With this model, there is no requirement that a mental health provider to assess whether or not a patient is a candidate for hormone therapy.
Our approach to members is to offer our medical expertise and experience with the trans and queer community, as well as to listen to a member’s understanding of their own body and life experience in order to come to a plan together.
We recognize we are just one aspect of a member’s information gathering, and we want to create a relationship of trust by providing as thorough and honest clinical information as is available to us. Ultimately, the decisions that affect an individual’s body and health are up to that person. And so our role is to support that journey as much, or as little, as needed.
