The Swedish Anti-Discrimination Ombudsman has things to worry about. It has concluded that a hospital discriminated against a woman who gave birth by referring to her as “mother” in medical records, despite the fact that the woman “identified” as a man. According to the Ombudsman, this is a “clear case of discrimination”.

The biological woman had specified in the birth plan and on a board in the room that she wanted to be referred to by the male pronoun during and after the birth.

That a birth giving woman is a “mother” is deeply rooted 

She has complained that “mother” is used in the medical records:

– Despite multiple occasions at different times and in different contexts where I have stated that I wish to be referred to by the male pronoun, this has been ignored in my medical records. This is despite the fact that it is clearly stated in the same journal.

The woman who demands to be perceived as a man during the unwomanly process of giving birth to a child also felt “offended” by a survey addressed to “pregnant women and new mothers”.

The hospital explained that terms such as “mother” for a woman giving birth are embedded in the software and cannot be changed.

Transman födde barn och kallades mamma – anmäler sjukhuset – P4 Sörmland https://t.co/5ZrEYEQM9g

Kan vi returnera samhället? Det är fucked up behind all recognition.

— Martin (@All4me87) June 16, 2024

Marie Bennermo, head of patient safety, told us last year that the healthcare system has not kept pace with changes in society:

– It could be that we’re stuck in the idea that a mum is a mum and a dad is a dad. It’s important to learn.