Jessica Yaniv, a transgender woman from Canada, has once again found herself at the center of public debate after filing a complaint against a gynecologist who allegedly refused to treat her based on her transgender status. According to Yaniv, when she sought care at a local clinic, she was informed by staff that they “don’t serve transgender patients,” a response that left her feeling shocked, confused, and hurt.

Yaniv has not publicly disclosed what type of medical care she was seeking during the visit, but the encounter has sparked a wave of online conversations about healthcare access, discrimination, professional responsibilities, and the rights of transgender individuals within the medical system. Taking her frustration to social media, Yaniv called out the incident and directly questioned the legality of the refusal, tagging the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia in her posts. “Are they allowed to do that, legally? Isn’t that against the college practices?” she tweeted. Yaniv later claimed that someone from the College told her over the phone that turning away transgender patients would be considered discriminatory.

However, the College soon released a statement clarifying that its staff do not provide legal advice or comment on specific situations. Instead, they said callers are referred to the College’s practice standards and are encouraged to decide for themselves whether to submit a formal complaint. This latest case involving Yaniv has reignited broader conversations about how transgender patients are treated in healthcare settings, particularly when seeking gender-specific services.

While some argue that doctors should not be obligated to perform procedures they are not trained or comfortable with, others believe that denying care on the basis of gender identity is a clear violation of human rights. The incident has also prompted questions about whether there is sufficient training and guidance for physicians when it comes to treating transgender patients, and what accommodations, if any, should be expected from specialists whose practice is typically focused on biological females. This is not the first time Jessica Yaniv has brought national attention to the topic of transgender rights and service refusal. In 2019, she filed multiple complaints with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal against various estheticians in the Vancouver area who declined to perform Brazilian waxing services on her male genitalia. Several of the women Yaniv filed against were immigrants or operated small businesses out of their homes, and many stated they were not trained to provide waxing services on male anatomy.

These cases caused significant public backlash, with critics accusing Yaniv of using human rights laws to target vulnerable workers for personal gain. Some of the small businesses affected by the complaints ended up shutting down, and Yaniv sought monetary damages of up to $15,000 from each respondent. However, the Human Rights Tribunal ultimately dismissed the complaints, ruling that Yaniv’s motivation appeared to be driven more by financial interest than genuine concerns over discrimination. The tribunal noted that Yaniv’s pattern of complaints suggested she was targeting specific types of service providers, particularly those least equipped to defend themselves, and found that her actions were not consistent with the intent of the human rights code. Now, with this latest controversy involving the gynecologist, opinions are once again divided. Supporters of Yaniv argue that transgender individuals should have equal access to medical care, including specialist services, and that being turned away on the basis of gender identity is unacceptable. On the other hand, critics argue that medical professionals have a right to limit their services to cases within their training or scope of practice, especially if they believe they cannot provide appropriate or safe care. The case remains unresolved, and it’s unclear whether a formal investigation or disciplinary action will follow. Regardless, the situation continues to stir public discourse about how to balance transgender rights with professional medical ethics, and how the healthcare system can evolve to ensure fair, respectful, and competent care for all individuals, regardless of gender identity.