Vital Signs: Finding Respectful Care as a Transgender Elder

Later this week, the Senate Health Committee takes up a bill that would require coroners and others filling out death certificates to reflect the deceased's preferred gender identity, as opposed to anatomy. The bill passed the Assembly last month. Despite growing tolerance of diversity, many individuals are still hostile, and in a position to abuse their power. 76-year-old Pamela Howland, who switched to living as a woman after retirement, came face-to-face with that fact when she needed hospital care.