Two doctors were suspended after it was discovered they removed a transgender man’s genitals without his consent in London, England this week.
Metro UK reports the patient named ‘Patient A’ was transitioning from a woman to male and only consented to two gender assignment procedures. He stated during a tribunal that Dr. Marco Capece altered a consent form to say that the patient allowed Dr.Guilio Garaffa to remove his vagina. Patient A did not realize his vagina was removed until a week into his recovery. Before the procedure, he repeatedly told both doctors that he didn’t want his vagina to be removed at the Highgate Private Hospital in October 2016.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service was told that the nonconsensual procedure has had a ‘profound impact in all aspects of the patient’s life including his well-being.’
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Dr.Capece added the term ‘vaginectomy’ to the patient’s alleged consent form to make it appear he approved for Dr.Garaffa to perform the surgery. He began his transition in 2013 and changed his name in March 2014. Through the process, the patient has undergone hormone therapy and reconstructive chest surgery.
Dr. Garaffa is known for his work as a ‘penis consultant’ and specializes in penis enlargement and reconstruction surgery in Europe.
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MTSP Chair Tim Bradbury condemned the two doctors for disregarding the patient’s wishes:
‘His failures were serious and numerous… The consequences of these failures were grave, Patient A underwent life changing and irreversible surgery which (they) did not want. It is significant that having amended the consent form, Dr Capece did not admit his wrongdoing despite numerous opportunities to do so either subsequent to Patient A’s complaint, during the investigation or in the course of this hearing, and he has maintained what the Tribunal has found to be a false narrative.’
The MTSP found Dr.Garaffa guilty of four charges of misconduct and handed him a five-month suspension. As for Dr. Capece, he was found guilty of three misconduct charges and handed a 12-month suspension.