Gender Transition Lawsuits to Become ‘International Trend,’ Psychiatrist Warns

A Sydney woman has sued her psychiatrist for failing to take necessary precautions to avoid risk of harm in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 24, 2022. Shutterstock

An Australian psychiatrist has warned there may be an increase in litigation related to gender transition surgeries on an international scale, saying the trend highlights the loopholes in the current “gender-affirmative” model.

The concern follows a report by The Sydney Morning Herald about a Sydney woman who is suing her psychiatrist for professional negligence after she underwent hormone treatments and had her breasts and womb surgically removed.

Jay Langadinos, who no longer identifies as trans male, alleges that psychiatrist Patrick Toohey didn’t evaluate her case sufficiently, nor recommend that she seek alternate opinions from other doctors ahead of her hysterectomy when she was 22.

The court filings state that Langadinos, now 31, accuses Toohey of approving her for hormone therapy after only one meeting, although she had told him she had a social phobia, indicating she may have had underlying psychological issues that needed treatment.

‘International Trend’

Psychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed, who treats patients with gender dysphoria, said the case follows an “international trend where there are more legal cases around people who are regretting transitioning.”

A similar case took place in the UK, where London’s Tavistock clinic was shut down after an independent review found the clinic’s “unquestionable” affirmative approach put children at “considerable risk” of distress and worsening mental health.

Ahmed told The Epoch Times that such cases are “very significant because it really just shines a light on weaknesses of the affirmative model.” While trans is “by and large, a type of identity disturbance,” it’s “just accepted rather than challenged.”

“One of the big myths of trans is they get sold this idea that if they transition, it’s going to solve their emotional distress,” he said. “In the bulk of cases, it doesn’t. Their psychological problems remain. And that’s actually one of the most common reasons people cite when they detransition.

“Other reasons include the discrimination, their fear, or their bodies change too much. It actually varies according to males and females.”

Ahmed also noted that “we have underestimated the number of people who either want to detransition or detransition in secret without it being recorded in any form.”

What Can Psychiatrists Do?

According to court documents, Toohey strongly recommended that Langadinos receive family therapy and regular psychological follow-ups.

He noted he was concerned that Langadinos didn’t know that “psychological factors could influence the outcome of gender transition.”

Meanwhile, Langadinos told the Herald her complicated home environment contributed to her feeling “defective,” which was strengthened in her mid-teens when she found herself attracted to people of the same sex.

However, after undergoing gender transition, Langadinos felt her unhappiness grow while suffering the loss of her breasts and female reproductive organs. In January 2020, Langadinos decided to stop testosterone treatment.

Ahmed told The Epoch Times that to avoid litigation in the future, psychiatrists need to encourage patients to explore a wider range of treatments that may help them deal with identity and psychological issues.

Psychiatrists “really need to show that they’ve worked very hard on all the other psychological problems,” he said.

“Personally, I think almost all of the cases [of gender dysphoria] shouldn’t need to go to [surgery].

“That’s the critical thing, where the affirmative model encourages that we’re going to help you out by transitioning. Whereas I think if you continue to see the experience as a type of pathology, which I think we need to, then you’re in a better place to challenge it.”

ACON, Transgender Victoria, and the Gender Centre didn’t respond to requests for comment.