(Female Reproductive System 3D Model now on sale at the NeatoShop)
Last September, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology issued a directive that its certified specialists could not treat men. The board made certain exceptions, such as medical emergencies, circumcising newborn boys and treating transgender patients. Certified gynecologists were required to devote at least 75% of their practices to female patients.
Gynecologists who treated men outside of these exceptions could lose their credentials. This caused serious problems for some gynecologists with mixed gender practices. For example, Dr. Elizabeth Stier, a gynecologist at Boston Medical Center, had developed a new screening technique for anal cancer. As a result of the ruling, she could no longer test male patients with this method.
But on Thursday, the board reversed its ban. It announced that its certified specialists are now free to treat both men and women. Certified specialists must now devote only a majority of their practices to gynecology and obstetrics.
-via Dave Barry