'Doors close on sex-change operations' (May 30)

SINGAPORE has been one of the region's leading centres for sex-change operations, but now the last hospital to offer them has stopped doing so.

An ex-National University Hospital (NUH) gynaecologist suggested that the Health Ministry ought to appoint one hospital here to perform sex-change operations.

What's your view?

SUCH A PITY

I HAVE not undergone any treatment or surgery, but I plan to in the future.

It is a pity that the only gender clinic in Singapore (has stopped performing them).

People like me, who have to scrimp and save just to go for the surgery, now have to save even more for costly operations abroad. - LITHO_CHASE

NOT COSMETIC

IT'S disappointing that after 30 years of offering medical help to the transgendered community, the authorities still do not understand its essential needs.

It may seem that this surgery is not necessary or life-saving, but there are many other factors to consider.

Someone suffering (I'm using the word ''suffer'' because it is indeed painful) from gender dysphoria is usually depressed, and this may affect his or her mental stability.

The surgery's purpose is not just to make one look good. - FIREFTM

DISAPPOINTED

SPEAKING as a transgendered youth, I would like to express the disappointment many Singaporean and Malaysian transgendered people are feeling now.

It seems that the local authorities are attempting to give the ''don't see, don't look, don't know'' treatment to the transgendered community here.

The law states that only after undergoing surgery are transgendered persons allowed to change their sex legally and get married.

The authorities are taking away a service that enables many transgendered people to live the lives they desire.

Why are we taking a step backwards? Many countries in the world are researching the causes and treatment of transgendered people, coming up with better standards of care, and developing a greater understanding of the community and their needs.

Are the authorities trying to take a ''moral'' or ''ethical'' stand?

I hope this is not the case, and the reasons they have supplied are genuine - that they're facing manpower shortage and will be looking to reopen this field of medicine.

Their view that such surgeries are ''cosmetic'' can easily be challenged by many medical workers who have been working with transgendered people.

Over the years, it has been established that such surgery is more than ''cosmetic''.

It is actually important for the well-being of the individual, and may also be a necessary treatment for what is known as Gender Identity Disorder (GID).

A large percentage of transgendered people who undergo the operations have become much happier. Only a very small number end up regretting their decision. - KAI C

SHOW SOME COMPASSION

IF A sex-change operation is not a life-saving procedure, then what about cosmetic surgery? Is the ministry also going to discourage this and give it ''less priority''?

Transsexuals are already victimised in many ways. Why do this to make their lives even more miserable? If they can afford it, and want to do it, let them do it.

Let us show them some compassion. - V SURIYA

LIFE-SAVING

IT CERTAINLY sounds absurd to me to suggest that those who undergo sex-change procedures do so just for sexual satisfaction.

Sexual pleasure could be just about the last thing on their minds if you think about the pressures they face.

Sex-change procedures are life-saving operations if you think about the high suicide rate of about 50 per cent in the transgendered community, and the fact that many transgendered people actually live hoping that they will one day save up enough money to have the operation.

Obviously, having to go abroad to have this surgery just makes things a whole lot harder for this already marginalised section of society.

Not only will it be more expensive now, they will also have to do it in some foreign land, away from the familiarity of home.

Transgendered folk all over the world have to deal with many tough issues.

For instance, the less fortunate ones get thrown out of their homes when they tell their families. Others face discrimination at work.

While there are still several moral and ethical issues surrounding this, I do hope that sex-change operations will be shortly resumed in Singapore. - XAVIER_W