Question raised by Middlesex
I'm reading Middlesex. Specifically, I just finished the bit where Dr. Luce is recommending surgery to change Calliope's genitalia to match her female upbringing. And I'm seriously disturbed.
Not by the gender switch, not by the description of Cal's abnormal plumbing. Not even, really, by the Doctor's mistake in deciding Cal is a girl (she lied about a lot, after all). By the absolutley terrible behavior of Dr. and parents, who make this momentous decision without consulting the patient, who is fourteen.
Background: I've had...*counts on fingers* seven major surgeries, all but one before I reached 18. Except for the one that happened when I was two, I have been explicitly, clearly, responsible for the decision on every one. Signed papers and everything. I've had doc's whose bedside manner could stand some improvement, sure... but they talked to ME. My parents were the secondary audience. I was the patient, so I got the explanations.
Reading about parents who have their kid examined, then go to a different room to discuss it with the doc, seriously creeps me out. Calliope's 14! (I was 13 when I had my giant orthopedic procedure). Let alone that the doctor withheld important information (probable loss of erotic sensation) from the parents. He withheld everything from the patient.
Does anyone know whether this was standard practice in the 70s, and I'm just lucky to have been born when I did? Or is it because he thought he was protecting Calliope's shaky gender identity by keep her in the dark (and, not incidentally, helping build his nurture vs nature case)? And please, no...do any children's docs still DO this?
Not by the gender switch, not by the description of Cal's abnormal plumbing. Not even, really, by the Doctor's mistake in deciding Cal is a girl (she lied about a lot, after all). By the absolutley terrible behavior of Dr. and parents, who make this momentous decision without consulting the patient, who is fourteen.
Background: I've had...*counts on fingers* seven major surgeries, all but one before I reached 18. Except for the one that happened when I was two, I have been explicitly, clearly, responsible for the decision on every one. Signed papers and everything. I've had doc's whose bedside manner could stand some improvement, sure... but they talked to ME. My parents were the secondary audience. I was the patient, so I got the explanations.
Reading about parents who have their kid examined, then go to a different room to discuss it with the doc, seriously creeps me out. Calliope's 14! (I was 13 when I had my giant orthopedic procedure). Let alone that the doctor withheld important information (probable loss of erotic sensation) from the parents. He withheld everything from the patient.
Does anyone know whether this was standard practice in the 70s, and I'm just lucky to have been born when I did? Or is it because he thought he was protecting Calliope's shaky gender identity by keep her in the dark (and, not incidentally, helping build his nurture vs nature case)? And please, no...do any children's docs still DO this?