RLE is a Civil Rights Issue

[Beverly]

I agree with you, and those examples are not informed consent as I understand it, or as Wikipedia defines it

It seems to be what some people around here believe - that no medical person should ever question anything and just do whatever is demanded and to hell with the consequences. I have seen plenty of articles and posts with "How dare xxxxx even ask us about this!!!"

Medical people are people too. Surprisingly they have consciences. Maybe in the USA they are cynical so-and-so's who just want to squeeze as much money as possible out of people, but the UK ones I interact with genuinely do care for their patients. I suspect that many in the US want the best for their patients too.

[Cindy]

My reply got chewed up! I hate that!

The main legal area is the USA system, most WPATH members are in the USA.

The Thai system is, as far as I am aware, completely different, there is little law to comply with. In Australia providers have to comply and if there are complaints we can lose our medical insurance and then cannot practice (by law).

There have been cases of Australians going to Thailand, being unhappy then lodge a complaint against the therapist in Australia, who advised against going and refused letters, for not preventing them from going. A Catch 22, I will do what I want and put in a complaint if what I want is not what I want after all.

[AnonyMs]

My reply got chewed up! I hate that!

You should have words with the forum admins about that!

The main legal area is the USA system, most WPATH members are in the USA.

The Thai system is, as far as I am aware, completely different, there is little law to comply with. In Australia providers have to comply and if there are complaints we can lose our medical insurance and then cannot practice (by law).

I guess its stating the obvious, but USA law doesn't apply anywhere else, and WPATH is not a legal document. I don't understand what USA or Australian law actually says about this though. I'm pretty sure it doesn't require compliance with WPATH or anything else like that. I'd image it says you're supposed to provide the best treatment and other vague things like that. Does it even say you need to be examined by a psych to get SRS? I'd expect not.

I believe there's two Thai laws. True, there's little to comply with, but its more than I'm aware of anywhere else.

Given that I'm not a Thai lawyer, my reading of this one is that its applicable only to citizens (i.e. not me) and can be ignored

"At present, there are numerous treatment options for permanent sex change operations without standardized rules and clear guidelines for treatment. Therefore, in order to ensure protection of citizens wishing to undergo a sex change operation, the Medical Council, in the role of a professional organization controlling and overseeing the standards of professional medical care, has stipulated the rules as follows:"

Regulation of the Medical Council Concerning Ethics in the Medical Profession, Rules for Treatment in Sex Change Operations, 2552 B.E. (2009 A.D.)
http://www.thailawforum.com/sex-change-operations-law.html

In the other one, the only part that applies to foreigners is this short section

"In the event the ailing person is a foreigner and has received approval from a foreign psychiatrist already, at least one Thai psychiatrist must assess and evaluate the person prior to the operation.
    After the sex change operation, the relevant doctors in the treatment must provide follow-up care and consultation as appropriate."
http://www.thailawforum.com/Guidelines-sex-change-operations.html

Combine this with Thai culture being very accepting of transgender people and its no surprise that its easy to get surgery there. Personally I think that's wonderful.

There have been cases of Australians going to Thailand, being unhappy then lodge a complaint against the therapist in Australia, who advised against going and refused letters, for not preventing them from going. A Catch 22, I will do what I want and put in a complaint if what I want is not what I want after all.

It's some kind of double catch 22. Is that a 44? If they file a complaint they prove they are mentally incompetent, and if they don't nothing happens. Either way nothing happens. I guess I should feel sorry for them.

I don't have much confidence in the Australian medical system either. There's not many doctors struck off here, and I've personally seen some very poor treatment. I believe there's a surgeon here who's incompetent, but still practicing. Anyone want to stand up and name him? Or her, I've no idea who it is.