To whom it may concern,
On April 18th, 2012, I went to see Dr. X of the Fredericton Psychiatry office regarding my gender identity disorder and to request a letter of recommendation for sex reassignment surgery at the clinic in Montreal. I was referred to Dr. X by a social worker of the Mental Health clinic because there was no one no one at the Mental Health Clinic willing to deal with my situation.
When I arrived at Dr. X office I was informed that he didn’t even know why I was there. He then asked me a number of very intrusive questions including whether or not I had ever been sexually abused, how many sexual partners I’d had, what I do for a living, my hobbies, and my disability. After I’d answered these questions, Dr. X told me that he didn’t know much about gender identity disorders or how to treat people who are transgender. He then tried to discourage me from transitioning by telling me numerous times that it costs a lot of money, the province won’t help me, and that it is a long process. Near the end of the appointment, Dr. X commented on how unhappy I seemed with what he’d told me, and said that he would refer me to the Clarke Institute in Toronto. The Clarke Institute has a terrible reputation amongst the transgender community and it is strongly recommended by those who have been there that it be avoided.
This is a horrendous way to treat transgender people. It can cause mental and emotional damage to us. A less stable person could have been at risk of suicide after an encounter like that. There needs to be somebody in Mental Health in New Brunswick educated on dealing with gender identity disorders.
I look forward to hearing your response to this issue.
Devin
Fredericton, NB
Copies sent to Canadian Mental Health Association, NB Minister of Health, AIDS NB SIDA, NB Human Rights Commission, Heather Duffet-Wiggs, head of the adult team for mental health clinic at VHC, Dr. Njoku, Spectrum, Josie Harding of Moncton Transgender Peer Support Group, Queer Theory Collective, Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons, Health and Community Services NB, Adult Team at Mental Health Center.
Posted in: FQ
Richard Earl
April 19, 2012
As a former social worker I have a great deal of empathy for you in this situation. The helping professions are educated to deal with some imaginary “ordinary” person and when faced with special situations, sometimes (often?) panic.
Doctors, in general, are physiologicalTECHNICIANS and have little or no training in how to actually deal with PEOPLE’s psycho-social problems, especially people who present with a smorgasbord of issues none of which they have a clue how to deal with. So far as I know there are no “tests” relating to transgender to provide the “technician” with the only tools he/she knows how to work with – NUMBERS on a chart. During your interview, what he/she realizes is that he/she’s about to become embroiled in a morass of psycho-social and perhaps even physiological nightmares he/she would rather avoid at all costs.
There’s also the difficulty that social workers and doctors are licensed as “professionals” and therefore have a mountain of rules and regulations they must work under or suffer the consequences. I strongly doubt there are guidelines published in their professional association regulations to help them. At any moment they fear they are likely to step on a landmine they didn’t even suspect was there.
Your issues require specialists. Unfortunately, it is up to you to find these resources yourself, unless, by pure luck, you happen upon a kindred soul who’s “been there, done that.”. The mainstream knows little of the view through your lens, and furthermore, what they do see makes most of them EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Rightly or wrongly, fairly or with profound unfairness, that is the way it is and no amount of complaining or campaigning on your part is going to change things significantly.
I sincerely hope you find answers and eventually peace and contentment.
Ben
April 19, 2012
This disturbs me greatly.
Steph Dee
April 22, 2012
I’m sorry Richard Earl, but I disagree with your last point…”no amount of complaining or campaigning on your part is going to change things significantly”. Your statement is almost as disturbing as Devin’s prior experience with the doctor! What kind of message are you sending here? That It’s better to give up or move to a province where he can get the help he needs? That’s so rediculous! Do you honestly believe that everyone throughout history that faced a challenge just gave up because the system in place seemed like it couldn’t be changed? Jenna Talackova didn’t just give up because someone told her “it’s always just been women – not trans women who have competed” (to cite one recent example).
I live in NB and have been working 5 years through a maze with my own gender identity issues. Did I feel like giving up at times? Yes. But I did not. And although it may seem like there are no resources and outlets for trans people in this province you would be wrong. There are people out there. I don’t know if Devin will read this, but if he does – I have found allies in Dr. Sandra Byers (Fredericton), and Dr. Calvy in Moncton. And those are only a few that I know of and have accessed. I am now being referred to an endocrinologist in Halifax for HRT. This doctor that Devin went to was right about one thing – it can take time to get where you want to be, but with good therapy, and a few supportive friends, you can do it! Sounds to me like Devin just got a rotten apple.
Devin – don’t give up. You are not alone! In time, things will change, but only if people want change and are willing to fight for what is right. I feel your frustration, and although NB can be a backwards place to live, we have to try to change the barriers that trans people face here. Josie Harding is an awesome lady in Moncton who took it upon herself to start a trans peer support group. I am following her lead and trying to get something off the ground here in Saint John. As far as the mental health end of things, I went to the Saint John Regional Hospital and was admitted to the Psychiatric ward when I was really down/suicidal. Although the doctors there were (in my opinion) less than well-versed in trans issues, they were caring, and directed me to people in the LGBT community to reach out to. I hope this doctor you had the experience with gets some sort of sensitivity training. At the very least NB doctors should be getting some sort of general training in how to work with trans people. Maybe we can fight to get that done too!!
Hang in there Devin!
Steph (Saint John)
Richard Earl
April 23, 2012
Steph, I accept your disagreement and understand the reason for it. If everyone who faced adversity simply gave up there wouldn’t be much progress.
The message I had intended to send, and which I made a botch-up of doing, was that it is important to pick your battles. And what I mean by that is, unless you intend to make it a life-long profession to be a change agent, pick battles you have a good chance to win in the forseeable future. It seemed to me that Devin was, as the saying goes, “up to his/her ass in aligators” (own specific gender ID issues) and that now is not the time to be worried about “draining the swamp” (changing/educating the attitude of society, considering that the vast majority of society is already fully engaged in dealing with their own “aligators.”).
As an aging gay man, I can remember that the weeks-months-years I spent embroiled in the struggle for gay rights as an activist were stressful and largely unfulfilling. I hear the same stupid misinformation and outright lies we fought against back then being broadcast today by otherwise intelligent people. Was trading a big chunk of my younger days “to the cause” worth what I gained? Perhaps… and that’s an “ify” perhaps. My efforts may have influenced a few to at least look again at their prejudices and biases. Considering the recent tragedy in Halifax, it’s hard to know.
And I really don’t know that if I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now about how deeply intrenched some prejudices/biases are in our societies, that I would invest 10-15 years of my youthful days screaming into the wind, when I could have been doing a thousand other more pleasant and pleasurable things. As far as I know we only get to pass this way once. In my view, it’s important to at least consider how to spend the time. Choosing to spend it enjoying oneself instead of embroilled in conflict is not selfish, in my view. Not, at least, if you hold to the philosophy that each of us has the right to make choices about how to live life without being subject to censure or sanction by others in society.
Anyway, if I’m off base, I apologize for my shortcomings and await enlightenment. You’ve provided specific referrals and recommendations which may be immensely helpful to Devin. Thank you for that.
And to Devin… I echo Steph’s encouragement – “hang in there.”
Richard
F’ton
menescus
April 23, 2012
I do not know why the doctor’s identity is being protected in this variation of the letter Devin wrote, it has not been concealed elsewhere. The doctor in question is Dr. Njoku of the Regent Street Psychiatry Office (not the Fredericton Psychiatry Office as stated in this article). To read the complete letter in it’s original form, minus Devin’s last name and address, follow the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/qultureclub/
menescus
April 23, 2012
Okay Richard, answer me this one. I can understand Dr. Njoku not being familiar with trans issues. So what the hell was the point of him dragging Devin through questions about his sexual history, asking about possible sexual abuse, and wanting details about his disability, when Dr. Njoku couldn’t do a bloody thing to help him?? THAT is pathetic. If this guy had any integrity he would have told Devin straight up that he couldn’t help him, could only refer him to a gender clinic.
Richard Earl
April 23, 2012
I cannot provide anything but guesses. I do not know Dr. Njoku and have no idea about his credentials, capabilities or reputation.
Perhaps the doctor realized during the first few minutes that Devin presented him with issues beyond his experience and was desperately searching for SOMETHING that he COULD help with. Devin reported “When I arrived at Dr. X office I was informed that he didn’t even know why I was there.”
Devin also reported that “Dr. X told me that he didn’t know much about gender identity disorders or how to treat people who are transgender.” It’s been my experience that most professionals, if being honest, will admit that they learn as much from some patients/clients as they teach. How better to learn than to question?
I hope I don’t sound like an apologist for the doctor. I’m just trying to offer notions to ponder – not defend positions for people I don’t know.
menescus
April 23, 2012
Dr. Njoku did not reveal his ignorance of trans issues until AFTER asking the questions. I can think of absolutely no valid reason for a doctor to ask such questios of a patient they cannot help.
Amy
May 3, 2012
There is a transgender clinic at the IWK in Halifax. If you are under 20, I would recommend getting in touch with them. I am a psychologist and have referred clients to them in the past.