Experiences of Health Care by Transexual People in Portugal: The perspectives of health professionals and health care users

Abstract

The present paper aims to contribute to two objetives, one of a theoretical nature and one of empirical nature, in the Portuguese context where recently the role of clinicians has become more relevant in assessment, support, sex reassignment and legal change of sex for transsexual persons. Hence, the first goal consists in a review of the literature and international standards of care for the treatment of transexual persons. The second goal involves the presentation of an empirical qualitative study, exploring the perspetive of clinicians (n=6) and transsexual persons (n=7) regarding their experiences of health care in Portugal. The results show certain competences and skills of these clinical teams, but also reveal the existence of practices contrary to international recommendations. These results are discussed in light of the literature concerning transsexuality but also of the approaches to the clinical sensitivity to individual and cultural diversity.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v26i1.266