Do I need parental visits during my GD consultation?

What is his consultation style?

The procedure is more diagnostic. Firstly, Dr Mohan asks his patients to talk about their history- how you felt, when you first came to know about it, how did you conclude that something was different in you. It is the same like any other consultation where the patient is encouraged to narrate their history. And then wherever there are doubts with the patient’s description, Dr Mohan asks for clarification. 

Basically towards the diagnostic end of an interview, it starts excluding other diagnostics. 

Later, some people ask of the doctor to convince their parents. At that time there is a second session wherein the parents come in and Dr Mohan explains everything to them what gender dysphoria is all about. 

Is it easy to do this?

“It is very difficult, but we try”, is what Dr Mohan says. “Some parents are already primed because of the person themselves. So maybe you have shown them a lot of literature, and as in the previous example, the professor had talked to the parents so they were primed and it basically let them accept and explaining the consequences of not going ahead and going ahead. Many parents still have a hang up and they don’t accept. And in that case they refuse to come and see me.”

Is there a requirement to see the Dr with your parents?

No. There is no such requirement. To give a GD Certificate there is no such requirement so if the person is an adult, legally then there isn’t. In India, if it is a closely-knit family and they are being looked after by their parents, that is, if the parents are going to finance them then they would want to bring their parents. It is not Dr Mohan’s requirement. If the person wants the parents to be involved in the surgery and treatment then they would want. If somebody has genuine gender dysphoria then Dr Mohan tells them to explain it all to their parents. But its not like being 40 or even at 30 and asking for parents for their consultation.

What about people below the age of 18?

We tell them to wait till they are 18. Sometimes it is allowed when there is parental approval involved. But if not then not much can be done, because legally it is not susceptible. Even endocrinologists would hesitate because you might get into a lot of legal issues.

If the parents agree, what would be the consultation fees?

There are people who come in where their parents are far away, they do not involve their parents but even in those cases, certification is possible.