format_quote Originally Posted by
glo
What is your profession, Zaria? What I mean is, in what way would you be involved in this process?
I am training as an endocrinologist (which deals with hormonal-related problems - e.g. diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, male/female reproductive problems, etc).
I work in a public sector hospital - which means that I cannot actively chose which patients are referred to me.
Unfortunately, individuals who are seeking gender correction surgery are being referred to us in increasing numbers (this is a relatively new trend in my country, and esp. in an impoverished public health sector as ours).
When such individuals are seen for the first time, we try to exclude any hormonal/ genetic basis for their problem.
For me, finding something wrong would be the best scenario (as weird as this sounds) - as it means that the person has a genuine medical cause for his gender crisis.
However, in the far majority of cases - the person is completely 'normal' both physically and biochemically......yet is requesting gender corrective surgery.
My part in this story would involve: prescribing male hormones to a female wanting to change (i.e testosterone) or female hormones to a male wanting to change (i.e oestrogen).
This would be required at mega doses and life-long, starting before the surgery even occurs --> to achieved the 'desired' outcome.
In other words - this young girl is actually asking me to prescribe testosterone (at a dose that would even exceed male requirements) - to enable her 'metamorphosis'.
If you are feeling confused right now......dont worry - so am I!
format_quote Originally Posted by
Insaanah
:sl:
What was the family set up like as a child?
Does she have any siblings, and if so, are they male or female, and what number child is she?
Did the parents want a boy, and subconsciously it reflected in their mannerisms? We don't give children enough credit, they do pick up on this type of thing.
Does she have brothers, who were praised more than her as a child, so she felt that's what she needed to do to gain approval? Or did she feel she didn't get on with her sisters, or that they didn't like her, and thus felt closer to her brothers?
Sometimes (but not always) you find that men with homosexual feelings are brought up in matriarchal families. Was there an extended family with grandparents, uncles, aunts?
What did she watch TV wise as a child etc?
She may say everything was fine, but most likely if there were such factors involved as mentioned above, that she picked up on then, she might not be able to pinpoint them now, looking back after all these years, and she would most likely feel that everything was fine.
On the other hand, maybe it was none of these, Allahu a3lam.
Wa-alaikumsalam,
She had been consulted by both a psychologist and psychiatrist, and so I did not go into great detail with regards to her social background.
However i do know that:
- she has an elder brother.
- her parents are divorced (as is commonly seen here).
- her mum does not approve of this - hence she is now living with her gran. (her parents would tell her that she is merely 'going through a phase that would soon pass' as she was growing up).
- Im not sure what she has been exposed to in the media as a child (before 4/5 yrs)
format_quote Originally Posted by
Insaanah
There's normally a conscience clause somehere, that enables you to refuse, but you must refer onwards. Not just doctors, but pharmacists also, who may not want to be involved in the supply of the "morning after" pill, can refuse to supply on grounds of belief, but must signpost to other places from where the patient may obtain a supply. Professionally, not referring isn't (in most cases) an option, even though you may feel uncomfortable and may feel complicit in it. As to whether it's sinning, Allahu a3lam, but as sister منوة الخيال said, you can at least take the responsibility off your hands, that's something you can do, and perhaps within the constraints you're in, the only option you have.
In the past, I had been 'shielded' from these sorts of cases - as a collegue in our division was the 'expert' in this field......and so, the rest of us happily asked these patients to sit in front of
her door.
She has now left......and Im not sure what will become of the rest of her patients either.
(It gets really disturbing......:/)
In this case, I would ideally like to tell the young girl: 'You are a normal female. Go home, put on a dress and all will be ok!'
I dont think thats going to work though!
And I also feel guilty to refer her to someone who wouldnt mind helping her.
---> Would it not be similiar to this scenario:
A man walks into your shop requesting a bottle of beer.
You tell him that you do not supply alcohol......BUT here are the details, address and phone number of where you can buy some!
I would be
consciously referring her to someone who i KNOW would embark on 'turning' her into a male!
: (