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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Peter Walker Senior political correspondent

UK data recording of biological sex causing potential risks, report finds

Male GP in patient consultation, looking up digital medical records
Alice Sullivan, the report author, said: ‘Sex is really important, we should be recording it by default – transgender and gender diverse identities can also be recorded where that’s appropriate.’ Photograph: Julian Claxton/Alamy

Official UK data recording people’s biological sex and their gender identity is often unclear or conflated, a government-commissioned report has found, causing confusion and potential risks, for example in healthcare and safeguarding.

The review, led by Alice Sullivan, a professor of sociology and research specialist at University College London, said guidance should be updated to make sure both sets of data were recorded in a clear and distinct way.

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