Surgeon Bias Toward Patient(s)

[Kristyn]

Is it possible?  I'd hate to think so.  Do you think that any of the surgeons we choose to perform our surgeries could give preferential treatment to some and not so so preferential treatment to others?  After all they're only human aren't they?  Or, are those that perform our surgeries--srs,ffs--above all that and see us all as equal? Are they really understanding of our differences (emotions, ability to pass well, etc.), and do they really strive to give each and every one of us the best possible result regardless?

[Fencesitter]

As far as I've seen in my life, surgery is the handcraft discipline of medicine. Surgeons, while they operate, do their job with the attitude of a car mechanic. Even if the surgeon does not like you when they see you outside of the operation room and treat you harshly, in the OP room they just do their routine (hopefully carefully) and you're but another body which needs to be fixed at that moment. If surgeons let emotions guide them at their job, they couldn't do that job for years and years. They need this distance because they have the lives and health of their patients in their hands - literally. So they see them as bodies, as matter, as clumps of tissues while at work. And usually they want to do a good job.

[sneakersjay]

What Fencesitter said.

I believe they want to do their best work each and every time, though obviously bodies differ.  Yes, some patients are easier and more pleasant to work with than others, but I don't think that changes the technical aspects of what they do.  After all, we will give recommendations or bad reviews on the internet which will help (or harm) their future business.

Not every surgeon is a good fit for every patient for a whole host of reasons, which is why you should choose carefully.


Jay

[Kristyn]

Both of you guys make very good points.  It's that type of professionalism I noticed from Dr Brassard.  Once some of the uneasiness of my consultation cleared, he was all business and, to me it appeared as he was in his glory while he was doing his thing.  I just want to go into this surgery with as much confidence as possible.

[Jessica.C]

Both of you guys make very good points.  It's that type of professionalism I noticed from Dr Brassard.  Once some of the uneasiness of my consultation cleared, he was all business and, to me it appeared as he was in his glory while he was doing his thing.  I just want to go into this surgery with as much confidence as possible.

Me too!! I haven't even met the man so your ahead of me on that one. Non the less hes still the one i choose Dr B seems to be one of the best out there and i very confident in his skills.

[pkmvancouver]

As I had my surgery 20 weeks ago with Brassard all I can say is this,

Brassard cares about his patients over anything else as does the staff. "Like a family, everyone is an equal" in their minds. I have never come across professionalism like this anywhere. He is a very down to earth caring man. All the girls that were there when I was there will say the same thing about him. He is not bias, he is there "for every patient that comes through the door to bring happiness to their lives."

Anyone going to Brassard I'm so happy for you.

I know there maybe doctors out there that might be like the topic asks, but definitely not Brassard.

[Kristyn]

As I had my surgery 20 weeks ago with Brassard all I can say is this,

Brassard cares about his patients over anything else as does the staff. "Like a family, everyone is an equal" in their minds. I have never come across professionalism like this anywhere. He is a very down to earth caring man. All the girls that were there when I was there will say the same thing about him. He is not bias, he is there "for every patient that comes through the door to bring happiness to their lives."

Anyone going to Brassard I'm so happy for you.

I know there maybe doctors out there that might be like the topic asks, but definitely not Brassard.

Thanks PKM!   

[Kristyn]

Me too!! I haven't even met the man so your ahead of me on that one. Non the less hes still the one i choose Dr B seems to be one of the best out there and i very confident in his skills.

You will get a very different perspective of him--in a good way--when you meet him and talk to him

[FairyGirl]

Dr. McGinn is one of the most professional, caring and compassionate people I've ever met. She is a consummate surgeon and a perfectionist when it comes to her work. I can't express how much I respect her and everything she does- not just surgery, but her work with every aspect of transition, and as a positive role model for transgender people everywhere.  She takes this business to a whole new level, and that is evident when you meet her in person. Not only that, but I couldn't have asked for better follow up care.

Can you tell I'm a little bit starstruck? lol

[Kristyn]

Dr. McGinn is one of the most professional, caring and compassionate people I've ever met. She is a consummate surgeon and a perfectionist when it comes to her work. I can't express how much I respect her and everything she does- not just surgery, but her work with every aspect of transition, and as a positive role model for transgender people everywhere.  She takes this business to a whole new level, and that is evident when you meet her in person. Not only that, but I couldn't have asked for better follow up care.

Can you tell I'm a little bit starstruck? lol

I don't blame you one bit for being starstruck, I was at her website the other day and she came across exactly the way you describe her.  I was very impressed with the fact that she did an internal exam with you and showed you what it looked like.  You made a great choice! 

[lilacwoman]

having had three transition related and three general surgeries in last 2.5 years I have to say that surgeons will do their best as they know they have lotsa witnesses around the op table and they have to keep the litigation lawyers away.
But like everyone else they can have bad days and make genuine accidents and even just slicing a body open they are assuming that everyone's pipes and wires are all in the same place.
A surgeon's attitide can be seen as either friendly, non-committal or autocratic.
The surgeons who did my ankle, knee, boobs and hair were all very friendly, the one who did my undescended testicle and the hernia repair were non-committal but the one who I told me my bits had shrunk so he couldn't and wouldn't attempt to make a working vagina was very autocratic and wasn't going to listen to me.

[Northern Jane]

I have no idea what it is like today - probably more money-driven than it used to be but .....

In 1974 Dr. Stanley Biber was an angle of mercy. I was young, suicidal, and didn't have the full fee for SRS but he took my case at a reduced rate. There "wasn't much to work with" but he said he would do his best to ensure I had a satisfying sex life and he did. With his understanding and compassion, I saw him very much as a father figure and used to write to him every spring (anniversary date) and let him know how my life was going. When he passed away, I cried.

[Fencesitter]

the one who I told me my bits had shrunk so he couldn't and wouldn't attempt to make a working vagina was very autocratic and wasn't going to listen to me.

Which is okay as well. He thought he could not "fix the car" well so sent you away and no harm done (even if he was not behaving in a nice way).

I cannot imagine a surgeon who hates the whole transsexuality concept doing this kind of operations at all. There's so much other fancy stuff you can specialise in as a surgeon. I'd have liked to become a surgeon for heavy burn unit cases, by the way.

[Kristyn]

I have no idea what it is like today - probably more money-driven than it used to be but .....

You're probably right considering that in the month of July Dr. Brassard must have made well over 200,000 on srs alone.  Given that, I highly doubt any quality was sacrificed.

In 1974 Dr. Stanley Biber was an angle of mercy. I was young, suicidal, and didn't have the full fee for SRS but he took my case at a reduced rate. There "wasn't much to work with" but he said he would do his best to ensure I had a satisfying sex life and he did. With his understanding and compassion, I saw him very much as a father figure and used to write to him every spring (anniversary date) and let him know how my life was going. When he passed away, I cried.

Nice account, thanks Jane   

[justmeinoz]

These Surgeons sound truly wonderful.
I work in a Hospital, and find that a fair percentage of Surgeons have all the personality of a dead duck, except for the ones in the ED who are run off their feet.