Currently, all letterheads only show the patient's sex at birth. This is extremely damaging to any patients who do not identify with their sex at birth, as any forms printed for the patient, certificates, consult requests, and prescriptions do not accurately reflect the gender identity of the patient and can result in confusion if the patient seeks treatment:
i.e: The patient goes to pick up their prescription from a pharmacy, but the prescription says "M" even though the patient's health card says "F". This discrepancy can cause numerous issues.
i.e: The patient is referred to a specialist, their sex at birth is displayed as "F", but the patient goes by other pronouns. the specialist is at risk of referring to the patient in the wrong terms: "Hello miss x" even though the patient does not go by female pronouns or identity.
Additional Note: The patient's gender that is considered for MSP in BC is based on what is displayed on the patient's health card, which can be changed if the patient submits paperwork to MSP requesting a gender identity changed. Therefore, in BC at least, the patient's Sex at Birth is not considered the basis for government official documentation or for consultation requests, and should not be the item that displays on forms that the patient's physician prints/faxes.