Third line for men, first line for women

I worry for medicine for women in the UK.

Slowly, insidiously, legislation is passing that gives them second-line, third-line treatments without proper informed consent, betraying the holistic principles we are trained to supposedly utilise for every man woman and child.

What do I mean? Women of 'birthing age'.

Regardless of if you're a 12 year old, lesbian, or infertile a doctor will simply give you less effective medication because it's more favourable if you get pregnant. And not tell you there's any other option.

Surely there are forms we can have for this, that a patient says they are not trying to get pregnant and they accept they are aware of potential effects should they want to carry the child to term? We have so many for so many treatments.

We do so much counselling and informed consent on a variety of nuanced clinical pictures and common medical problems.

It does not feel fair, that a 12 year old girl, will get her life-span shortened and suffer noticeable consequences for her epilepsy because she is denied Sodium Valproate. She will have real-time cognitive repercussions.

It does not feel right that we are protecting the potential rape-child of a lesbian. It reads we are not trusting her judgement on her orientation.

It does not feel right that we are protecting small unplanned chances over thousands of women's health throughout their life. It reads that women are not as valuable as a potential unborn child that may never occur in her life.

I understand doctors do not want to be liable if that infertile 25 year old gets pregnant, but surely we can document and consent them first?

Kind Regards.

An SHO recently suggested third line for men, first line for women. Guidance that passed in the last year causing it.

Edit: don't let the use of the word 'grape' to get past moderators detract from the core message. I changed it back for you.