Policy on Pronoun Usage and Gender Identification in Patient Communication
Purpose:
To promote clarity and accuracy in patient communication and documentation by exclusively using language that reflects a patient’s biological gender rather than pronouns.
Policy:
Healthcare personnel shall refrain from using pronouns (e.g., he, she, they) in both verbal and written communication. Instead, staff will refer to patients according to their biological gender by using terms such as “male patient” or “female patient,” and by addressing them by their name, title (Mr., Ms., etc.), or relevant descriptors.
Guidelines for Implementation:
- Use Patient’s Name or Title Based on Biological Gender
• Address and refer to patients by their name (e.g., “John Smith”) or title (e.g., “Mr. Smith” or “Ms. Jones”) as aligned with biological gender.
- Use “Male Patient” or “Female Patient”
• When documenting or discussing patient information, use “the male patient” or “the female patient” for clarity based on biological sex, rather than using pronouns.
- Documentation Standards
• All patient records and documentation should reflect this language standard, maintaining consistency in how biological gender is referenced across communications.
This policy ensures all healthcare communications reflect the patient’s biological gender, thereby supporting clarity, professionalism, and consistency in care delivery.