The largest youth gender clinic in Australia wants to perform mastectomies on gender-confused girls under 17-years of age.
According to The Australian, clinic director, Dr Michelle Telfer from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne told the state’s mental health royal commission in July that mastectomies improved the mental health of trans boys and are “an integral part of the transition process.”
The Telfer clinic, which treats children and adolescents up to 17-years, does not currently offer surgery, however, according to Dr Telfer “many” girls who identify as boys are asking for “chest reconstructive surgery.”
Dr Telfer has called for surgery to complement hormone treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital and for “secure, long-term” public funding to meet the rising demand, The Australian reported.
Although Dr Telfer says her hospital has the expertise to start trans mastectomies, they lack the funding.
The Australian quoted Dr Telfer as saying: “There are no private surgical services available for (trans) adolescents under 18 in Victoria, leaving them with no option but to seek chest reconstructive surgery interstate or overseas.”
While the hospital’s care and treatment guidelines for trans children and adolescents advises that youngsters delay genital surgery until adulthood, it also states, “chest reconstructive surgery… may be appropriate in the care of trans males during adolescence.”
Charlie Evans, founder of The Detransition Advocacy Network, and former transgender male, told Sky News recently that since deciding to stop transitioning, she’s been contacted by “hundreds” of young people who regret their gender transition, some of whom suffered irreversible surgery.
“I’m in communication with 19 and 20-year-olds who have had full gender reassignment surgery who wish they hadn’t, and their dysphoria hasn’t been relieved, they don’t feel better for it,” Evans said.
One of the women under the care of Evan’s organisation is Debbie Harries. As a child, Debbie suffered from sexual abuse and in her twenties was subject to further trauma. All of this had an impact on the way Debbie viewed herself. She hated her body and felt distressed being female.
Following an appointment at a private clinic, Debbie began testosterone injections. After her second meeting, she was referred for a double mastectomy. The testosterone treatment carried on for 17-years. She had a hysterectomy, vaginectomy, phalloplasty, and a double bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes).
Eventually, Debbie discovered that her surgeries only covered her mental health problems, rather than healing them.
“I was never in a psychological place to consent,” Debbie told The Destransition Advocacy Network. “I had learning difficulties as a result of the horrendous trauma and narcissistic abuse from my family since a baby.
“I want to be able to connect with the woman that I realise I am that I rejected and the little girl that was rejected by me. I’m hoping that in the future I can reverse some of the mutilations that has been done to me that I don’t feel I was able to consent to.”
Last month Debbie appeared on BBC’s Newsnight to share her devastating story. A heartbreaking segment from that story can be viewed below.
“I remember breaking down… It was like – this is a mistake, it should never have happened.”
Debbie was born a girl – assigned female at birth – but aged 44 she transitioned to a man.
Now, after 17 years she's decided to detransition and go back to living as a woman#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/KU9DajL1Y8
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) November 25, 2019
