Q&A: Russell Reid inquiry

Guardian.co.uk – David Batty

David Batty explains the background to the General Medical Council disciplinary hearing into the conduct of one of Britain’s best-known gender psychiatrists

What is the inquiry about?

The UK’s best-known expert on transsexualism, Russell Reid faces a General Medical Council disciplinary hearing into allegations that between October 1984 and August 2003 he breached standards of care by prescribing patients with sex-changing hormones and referring them for genital surgery without adequately assessing them. It is alleged some people later regretted changing sex.

Who is Russell Reid?

Dr Reid is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the treatment of gender identity disorders, particularly transsexualism, in which a person possesses a strong and enduring desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex.