Well, he is one of the best known. He has been around for years and has served on the GMC's guiding committee for transexuality for about a decade.

However, it has also been known for some time that the GMC didn't like his dissention from standard practice as it implied criticism of the NHS process. This process which has been increasingly criticised from within the TG community and so this may have been a pre-emptive strike to quieten the  peasants. It has certainly been the common wisdom on the TG scene that the GMC were out to "get" Dr Reid; seems like they've found their silver bullet.

As for the second juxtaposition. The first is the conventional thinking. There are no tests. However Dr Reid has hit upon a solution that helps.

It is not a "classic" diagnostic tool because it doesn't work for all patients and neither is it independently verifiable. The consultant still has to take the patient's word that the effect was real.

However, for me, it was a wonderful proof that I was making the right decision. So it proved to me that I was right and gave me the confidence to continue a process towards what could be a very scary operation and take that decision without fear.

Anybody who enters into such a life-changing operation and didn't think long and hard about it is a fool. Fortunately, I had the knowledge that it was the right thing to do as a guide through my fears and concerns. Without that, I cannot say for certain I might not have turned back.

keep to the Fen Causeway