A recent incident involving transgender activist Jessica Yaniv has sparked renewed debate about healthcare access after a gynecologist refused to treat her. Yaniv, who has previously made headlines for complaints against beauty salons that declined to wax male genitalia, now finds herself at the center of a medical controversy.
The dispute began when Yaniv visited a gynecologist’s office and was reportedly told, “We don’t serve transgender patients.” While Yaniv hasn’t disclosed what specific care she sought, she took to social media to express her shock and distress, questioning whether such refusal violates medical ethics standards. She tagged British Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in her posts, prompting a response.
This isn’t Yaniv’s first discrimination complaint. In 2019, she filed cases against beauty technicians who refused Brazilian wax services, though tribunals later dismissed these as financially motivated. The current medical refusal raises broader questions about transgender healthcare access and physician preparedness.
Medical experts note that while some procedures require specialized knowledge – particularly for patients who’ve undergone gender-affirming surgery – blanket refusal of care creates dangerous barriers. Transgender individuals already face higher risks of delayed diagnoses and preventable health complications due to such barriers.
