Sex change rules mended
- Source: Global Times
- [01:32 November 23 2009]
- Comments
By Huang Jingjing and Ji Beibei
The rules about who can and cannot get permission for a sex change operation has been changed.
Only those 20 or above with documented psychological reasons will be allowed to become a transsexual. And only surgeons with at least 10 years of related experience in hospitals approved by health authorities may carry out such procedures, according to the new regulations unveiled by the Ministry of Health.
Experts in plastic surgery welcomed the move announced Friday but also called for more measures to protect patients from institutions that may violate the rules.
The regulations said only upper first-class polyclinic or cosmetic surgery hospitals with approval from the health department are allowed to carry out the operation. The surgeons should have plastic surgery experience of more than 10 years, including five years with sex change operations and having performed independently at least 10 operations on reconstructing reproductive organs.
A psychologist should assess whether the patients are destined to have a sex change.
Chen Huanran, a renowned plastic surgeon and gender-realignment specialist, told the Global Times yesterday that the regulations are needed.
"China finally has its regulations on sex-change operations. It's very significant since the legislation for transsexuals represents somewhat a nation's development in civilization," he said. "The situation that half of the surgeons currently in the nation are disqualified. The regulations offers more protection to patients."
The regulations were announced five months after the ministry issued a draft of clinical guidelines on sex change surgery with a call for public opinion.
But Chen said the regulations do not specify the detailed procedures and criteria for successful operations.
"Some institutions performed surgeries without the correct process," Chen said, adding 60 percent of his patients sought corrective surgery after botched procedures.
