Applying Gender-Inclusive Language in Surgical Care

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Surgical Practice
• Health Equity

Background:

• Patient-centered care necessitates affirming communication, yet gender-inclusive language in surgery is inconsistently applied.
• Inadequate training, time constraints, and lack of institutional policies hinder the use of gender-affirming language.
• Misgendering can negatively impact patient mental health and the patient-provider relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the universal adoption of gender-inclusive language in surgical settings.
• To present a practical framework for integrating inclusive communication strategies.
• To call for systemic changes in surgical education and institutional accountability.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on gender-inclusive language and patient-centered care.
• Development of a practical framework with examples of neutral greetings and de-gendered anatomical terms.
• Analysis of the impact of inclusive language on patient-provider rapport and reduction of misgendering.

Main Results:

• Gender-inclusive language, including neutral greetings and de-gendered terms, can be practically integrated into surgical care.
• These linguistic practices improve patient-provider rapport and minimize instances of misgendering.
• Systemic reforms in training and institutional policies are crucial for sustained implementation.

Conclusions:

• Universal adoption of gender-inclusive language is a cornerstone of equitable and patient-centered surgical practice.
• Educational and institutional reforms are necessary to ensure consistent application of affirming language.
• Addressing legislative threats to gender-affirming care requires upholding standards of inclusive communication.