Letters to and from the QLD Health Minister - Changeling Aspects

From: Kathy Knoble [knoble@iinet.net.au]Sent: Friday, 11 May 2012 10:51 AMTo: 'health@ministerial.qld.gov.au'Subject: Your LetterDear Minister,Thank you for your letter of the 4 May 2012. I see that the piece I wrote, “Problems for Health and theAMA” has been passed to your department from the Minister for Communities, Child Safety anddisabilities Services. Much has happened in regard to these problems, and they are being added todaily.I also sent the following to Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, as this is not just a problemfor Queensland, but for Australia as a whole.” Dear Minister,I was contacted by the Director of Queensland Mental Health Commission, Dr Aaron Groves and alsoby the Clinical Director of the Acute Care Unit, Dr Gregory Weppner fromthe Princess Alexander Hospital in Brisbane.They enquired as to, was there anything that could be done to help the young Trans woman who hadattempted to perform Sex Reassignment Surgery on herself. This was on the Thursday before Easter.They thought that there must be monies in Queensland to help in just such a situation. I had to informthem that there were no such funds or any form of funding for Trans people anywhere in AustraliaThis speaks volumes, as these two gentlemen are at the top of the chain of command, with bothadmitting to knowing nothing concerning Trans people and our issues. If this is the situation, then itfollows that most in the medical fraternity know nothing. This was later proved to be the case when DrWeppner had two of his staff visit this young lady on Good Friday, it proved to be completely outsideof their remit. They could only offer what she was already receiving. Support from Trans groups andcounselling.We are finding that there are many others facing this same situation, due to lack of funds. Oursuicidality is already high and the lack of funding is one of the many contributing factors.When will we be understood and afforded the same amount of time and concern as are the Gaycommunities? Transsexualism is recognised World wide as a curable affliction as per these quotes.Transsexualism is now understood to be innate and somantic rather than a lifestyle choice. Deprivedof appropriate treatment, Trans people are likely to function less well and suffer ongoing healthproblems resulting in a greater strain on the National health SystemParliamentary Forum on Transsexualism (2005); Guidelines forHealth Organisations Commissioning Treatment Services for Individuals Experiencing GenderDysphoria and Transsexualism;London, Parliamentary Forum on Transsexualism.Gender Identity Disorder (GID) if left untreated, can result in clinically significant psychologicaldistress, dysfunction, debilitating depression and for some people without access to appropriatemedical care and treatment, suicidality and death…delaying treatment for GID can cause and/oraggravate additional serious and expensive health problems, such as stress-related physicalillnesses, depression and substance abuse problems, which further endanger patients’ health andstrain the health care systemAmerican Medical Association House of Delegates Resolution 122 (2008)The personal accounts of Transsexual people and their clinicians further demonstrates that surgicalconsiderations often represent quite literally, a matter of life or death

Kotula D. (2002) In The Phallus Palace, W.E. Parker (consulting editor) Alyson Publications, LosAngelesDelays in the ‘system’, whether clinical or financial, cause a great deal of stress, while the inability toaccess timely treatment may also be a cause of suicidal feelings. As well as suicide, a number ofother risks are identified:Stress leads to a number of Trans people to self-harm and even to attempt suicide. These feelingsmay occur at any time, but they are often associated with the realisation that it is impossible tocontinue life in the pre-transition role. For some, the choice is stark: either the gender issue isaddressed, or there is no future…Through frustration or anxiety, or both, some Trans people selfharm by cutting their arms and legs and occasionally, their offending sex characteristics, such asbreasts (Trans men) or the penis and scrotum (Trans women) Alcohol and other substance misusemay also be a factor, especially where there is family breakdown and social isolation.GIRES et al. (2008) Guidance for GPs, other clinicians and health professionals on the care of gendervariant people; document issued by the Department of Health (UK)The above highlighted in red, is what this young lady attempted.”I look forward to hearing from you in the near future, and would very much like a meeting with yourdepartment to discuss this and other health problems that face us and out wives, spouses andpartners.Kathy Anne Noble TRANSChangeling Aspectswww.changelingaspects.com

QueenslandGovernmentOffice of theMinister for HealthMs Kathy NoblePO Box 897CLEVELAND QLD 41634 MAY2012Dear Ms NobleI wish to thank you for your correspondence which has been forwarded to our office from Office ofMinister for Communities, Child Safety and Disabilities Services.I have asked my Principal Policy Advisor to examine the issues contained in your correspondence.I have requested that he investigate the issues you have raised and my office will communicatewith you directly.I thank you again for raising this matter with me.Yours sincerelyLevel 19147-163 Charlotte Street Brisbane 4000GPO Box 48 BrisbaneQueensland 4001 AustraliaTelephone +61 7 3234 1191Facsimile +61 7 3229 4731Email health@ministerial.qld.gov.auABN 65 959 415 158