Doctors and patients to defy directive

More than 3,000 clinics in Bangkok and around 100 private hospitals have been told by the Public Health Ministry has banned unauthorised castrations.

Provincial publichealth offices will tell clinics and hospitals there. The ban is in place until further notice, deputy permanent secretary Phiphat Yingsayree says.

The Medical Council and the ministry will try to make a conclusion on the matter. Clinic owners are entitled to appeal within 30 days.

There are around 10,000 clinics and 300 private hospitals in the country.

A doctor with a local government clinic in Chiang Mai says he estimates thousands of gay men undergo castration at private clinics. He first encountered the demand three years ago when two male crossdressers came to him for the operation.

He says the men developed muscle weakness after surgery.

Dr Thep Wetchawisit of the Pratu Nam Polyclinic in Bangkok, who admits performing hundreds of castrations, will defy the directive and calls on anyone who wants to be castrated to come to him.

"I want them to be happy with what they want to be, and will remove their unwanted organs," he adds.

Dr Thep says the ministry should ban the surgical removal of breasts from gay women, to promote equality among gay people.

The doctor says he's removed the breasts of many women, including some younger than 20.

Bell, a 17yearold transgender, says he's opposed to the directive, saying it violates his right to choose. He says it prevents him from having his testicles removed, He will undergo a full sexchange operation in the next three years.

Daily Express