The NHS is facing criticism for asking patients to choose from a vast array of options regarding religion, gender and sexual preferences during online registration. The Telegraph has the details.
NHS patients are being asked to choose from 159 religions, 12 genders and 10 sexual preferences before they attend hospital appointments.
Critics said the data collection was “bizarre” and “confusing” with those trying to navigate the health service being asked if they are a Goddess, Satanist or Druid before they access care.
Patients’ groups described the system as “wokery to the nth degree” saying the “complex and intrusive” questions would leave users baffled, and raise concerns about personal security.
The questions are asked when patients register with an online portal which enables them to access their hospital appointment details, test results and medical records, before attending NHS outpatient appointments.
Patients are directed to a section on their personal information to fill in their details, with repeated reminders for those who do not oblige.
“Gender identity” options to choose from include genderfluid, questioning, agender, non-binary, demiboy and demigirl, as well as male and female.
Patients are also offered a menu of “sexual preferences”, including pansexual, bisexual, gay, heterosexual, lesbian, queer, questioning, unsure or asexual – or a combination of these – to choose from.
They are also asked to select their “sex assigned at birth” and “legal sex” from the options of male, female or indeterminate.
Patients using the service criticised the questions as being “bizarre, confusing and intrusive”. …
The questions are asked as part of the registration process for MyChart, an online service which patients are asked to sign up to prior to attending outpatient appointments.
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