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Montreal sex-change clinic packs them in

ANDY BLATCHFORD

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 11:40 AM EDT 16/05/08

Centre Metropolitain de Chirurgie Plastique is attracting patients from around the world ...Read the full article

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  1. Kathleen Degelder from Tacomawashington, Canada writes: Question is: Are these people honest enough to future relationships?
  2. D T from Canada writes: Surgery (other than brain surgery) for a mental disorder seems ill-advised.

    Why must it be a mental disorder?

    Because the concept of 'feeling' like someone of the opposite sex is a meaningless one.

    I'm a man but I can't know what it 'feels like' to be a man. I can only know what it feels like to be me. To assign that feeling to a gender is meaningless.
  3. Dennis sinneD from Calgary, Canada writes:

    Is this place a 'for profit' center? Or, do they give the profit back to the electorate?
  4. Building an Ark from Eastern Slopes, Canada writes: Dennis sinneD from Calgary, Canada writes: Is this place a 'for profit' center? Or, do they give the profit back to the electorate?

    No Dennis, like every great social idea in Que. it's all paid for by the ROC through tranfer payments. You see Que. is a have not Province and as such can change genders on a dime, that is of course if it's yours and my dime. Ever heard of $5/day child care in Calgary???
  5. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: As a past patient of Dr. Brassard I can attest to the incredible skill this man has. No one entirely knows why transsexuals exist, but I can assure you all that it is a really nasty condition- I grew up in a rural community in a good family but right from the start I just felt like I was supposed to be female- without ever hearing the term transsexual I just knew something was really different. I grew up into a really awkward male and in my twenties I started the sex-change process and really have never looked back- I went from awkward and substance addicted to a successful happily married woman. (And yes, my partner knows about my past- I couldn't imagine keeping that sort of secret). The surgery was a needed step in a many stepped process that literally let me gave me my life back.
    Let's get one thing clear- people have tried every other method to 'fix' transsexuals and it just doesn't work. We just can't change people's hard-wired brain sex, so the only solution is to change the body. My private insurance paid my surgery costs, but if the tax payers had paid the $20,000 or so they would still save in the long run as untreated transsexuals end up costing way more to society- lost and ruined lives are expensive.
    For the record the best surgeons for people going the other way- female to male, are now in Belgrade. I was lucky I didn't have to go too far. I don't know if I can say Dr. Brassard saved my life but he made it a lot more livable. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, and no one does this for kicks. It is just a strange condition with a very strange treatment.
  6. bethany middleton from Canada writes: Kathleen, what kind of comment is that? Why wouldn't transgender people be honest with their partners? or perhaps better put: why would they be less honest than others? Many transgender people continue with the same partner; others separate - just the same as any other couple.

    DT, it's obvious you know little or nothing about gender dysphoria, which is great for you: you've never questioned your masculinity or your 'rightness' within your own skin. But for those that have, it's hell. Perhaps the image that might help you is imagining yourself in a female body. and now put yourself in that body for over 20 years, sometimes over forty. And then see how it 'feels'. It's offensive to say that gender is meaningless when you have nothing upon which to base that opinion.

    And no, I'm not trans, so I haven't been there either. But I haven't been through alcohol or drug addiction either and I haven't been through prostate problems or erectile dysfunction...I can only trust the people who have and their doctors.
  7. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: I'm totally opposed to this sort of surgery. These people are not suffering from some kind of physiological problem, they are suffering from a phychological problem. The underlying psychological disorder should be treated and you don't do that by altering the sexual construction of the body.
  8. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: Actually Steve, there is evidence out of Europe that it is physiological- studies of brain structure would show that my brain has always had female structure even if my chromosomes were XY at least on the surface. (Other studies have found chromosomes taken from the marrow of transpeople can be a mix of xx xy, and combos. All attempts over the last century or so to treat transpeople and it just hasn't worked. Hopefully sceince will learn more as the years go by. Notice I am not accusing you of being right wing or anything- to be honest we are so rare most people know little about us, and what they do know comes from Jerry Springer. If you met me on the street you would likely think I am just another thirty something woman with no psychological issues. You might even think I'm a decent person. The problem is most people never get to meet us, as we don't really go around advertising our pasts!
  9. David Simon from Canada writes: Now that Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman has okayed OHIP payments for this nonsense expect higher Ontario taxes and more money going to Quebec.
  10. bethany middleton from Vancouver, Canada writes: David Simon: you call gender dysphoria 'nonsense'? Who are you to say that? What gives you the right to say that?
  11. A Wong from Montreal, Canada writes: I'm not going to dignify some of these ignorant and in humane transphobic comments with a response. I do wonder why the writer of the article began with male pronouns--it confuses the reader who doesn't know whether 'Cynthia' is the pre-op or post-op (or MTF vs FTM) name. If it was post-op, then the pronoun should have been 'she' right from the start.
  12. John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: If only we lived in a world where falling outside of the strict dichotomy of 'male' and 'female' was not a punishable offence.

    I say this as a male who has always been 'too girly', and been abused and beaten for it. I don't want surgery. I don't need it. But if someone else does, well, how does that hurt you?
  13. J L from Canada writes: Why am I not surprised? Welcome to the 20th century Scottie.
  14. I M from Canada writes: What indignation and consternation some of these posters have. As if the personal decisions of transgendered people are going to directly affect the happiness of the general public!

    Be opposed all you want, but you don't have to question their lifestyles. They aren't nattering at you about yours.
  15. JOSH Back from PHILLY from Toronto, Canada writes: Now I do have a problem with tax payers picking up the bill for this operation...

    I can't get ohip to cover my ankle surgery because it's determned medically not neccessary - I can continue to 'limp' and still survive, but just won't be able be able to play intense sports any more.

    I can't understand how a sex change is covered and not othopedic surgery to shorten my ligaments...

    That being said,

    should the goverment pay for someone who's 'made a mistake' on their gender change? lol..

    Yes, this world is getting slightly poposterous

  16. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: Josh, they should fix your ankle!
    People changing their mind about a sex change is really rare. Of the thousands of surgeries I've only heard of one or two who 'switch back' and those few cases usually involve people with very religious backgrounds who face extreme pressure from their church/family. They are really rigorous about who is approved for treatment.
    Good luck with the ankle. Transpeople had to lobby them for ten years to get the funding back after Harris cut it- hopefully you get quicker service!
  17. Shawn Syms from Toronto, Canada writes: Thanks to Ms Gabrielle for sharing her experiences. Other people commenting ought to be open to listening to them. She knows what she is talking about from experience. A lot of people seem to have strong opinions about sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) despite having extremely little knowledge about it.

    I will be thrilled when SRS is covered by OHIP again. The costs are small because the number of people affected is small. The benefits to both the individual and society are great. I can think of a billion other ways taxpayers' dollars are wasted in this society. As a taxpayer, I would be happy to have my money going toward this.

    I am lucky and grateful that both my outward appearance as well as my deep inner sense of gender identity are both clearly male; they match one another. I can only imagine the pain someone could feel to look in the mirror and see something they experience as intrinsically profoundly wrong.
  18. Chris H, formerly of Canada from Australia writes: Frankly, I'd be more pissed about cleaning up after the smokers, willfully obese and drunks. $20k for a small handful of people is a pittance, and seems to bring a lot of happiness to a group that would otherwise be miserable. Meh. Most of the people who end up in our hospitals make poor lifestyle decisions. Charlotte et al didn't choose this, and to be honest, I would rather sit down for a beer with her than most people in for knee surgery because they're too fat. (you know, while we're making judgements about peoples' lifestyles here...)
  19. F E from ottawa, Canada writes: I don't understand some of the comments, why are people so against others being happy. If the surgery allows someone be happy, than what's wrong with it?
  20. harry carnie from Northern, B.C, Canada writes: If these operations allow the individuals to live happier, more productive lives there is no problem in this operation being paid by the health plan.It is a condition that was forced on them ..by birth.

    As has been mentioned, we pay for people who damage their health by making life style CHOICES
    Smoking, drinking, sports ect.
  21. PANIC! At The Ice Floe from Ottawa, Canada writes: I have no issue with gay marriage or transgenders, but I have a serious issue with the taxpayer paying for sex change operations. You want to change, fair enough...I couldn't care a less, just pay for it yourself.

    Honestly, if I can't get my eyes checked under OHIP, there is no way I could ever support sex change operations being paid for with tax dollars.

    Let the name calling begin...
  22. Between a Rock and a Hard bit from Thailand writes: PANIC! At The Ice Floe from Ottawa, Canada writes: I have no issue with gay marriage or transgenders, but I have a serious issue with the taxpayer paying for sex change operations. You want to change, fair enough...I couldn't care a less, just pay for it yourself.

    Honestly, if I can't get my eyes checked under OHIP, there is no way I could ever support sex change operations being paid for with tax dollars.

    PANIC you have hit it right on the head. I could care less if someone wants their tackle chopped off. Do it on your own nickel.
  23. Charles Smith from United Kingdom writes: I agree that the surgery is focusing on the wrong area of the body; it's the head that needs an operation; that's the head that houses the brain. These are sick people, and what do we offer, businesses called clinics exploiting them, mangling them for life for profit. What next?
  24. François Papineau from Montreal, Canada writes: Building an Ark : You are just and anti-Quebec idiot. Read the article. It's not paid in Quebec this is 100% private.
  25. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: I knew someone would call us sick people eventually; the funny thing is, most people can only do that from a distance- if they actually know us they find their arguments really fall apart. When I told people in my little rural town that I was changing sex (and this was about ten years ago) they were really pretty supportive- they knew me, knew I wasn't sick or crazy, and most everyone said 'yeah, that makes sense- you've never really seemed like a guy anyway' It just made sense to them.
    Here's the thing- I'm from the sticks, I am pretty conservative in a lot of ways- I just happened to come this way- believe me, I hope one day they figure out how to fix this earlier in life somehow! I don't judge people who don't understand because this tramples over a lot of society's hang-ups and taboos, but transsexuals have existed through all of history and I am just happy to live in a time where we can finally get treatment.
    As a side note- isn't strange how someone eventually always say we are getting our 'stuff' cut off? Frankly I had the surgery so that I could have a vagina, labia, and clitoris (when you are female they are kind of useful body parts to have) but somehow it is all about the penis in our society.
  26. P Martin from St. John's, Canada writes: It is my hope that people that experience these difficult feelings are able to deal with them, in whatever form is required. While surgery may be an extreme measure, if it works then I am all for it. And given the medical nature of these mental problems, it should be paid for the government, for Canadian citizens. So long as the diagnosis is clear.

    As for their future prospects, I hope they are able to fully integrate into a society that they may not have felt part of. Sexual identity is hard enough for some without a physical component thrown in.
  27. Glen Newby from Canada, Canada writes: We should appreciate the knowledge and wisdom offered by Charlotte Gabrielle, we have much to learn in this area.
  28. D K from Canada writes: So sex change surgery yes, eye exams no. We have messed up priorities.
  29. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: Glen, you are making me blush. I'm not even the best informed transperson around- I just happen to be working from home today on a big report for work so I can toss my two cents in.
    As for those saying 'And this is funded and service X isn't' well of course things like eye exams should be funded, but you have to think in terms of ability to pay and cost of non-treatment. Transsexuals (and for that matter autistic kids) often can't afford to pay for treatment, yet the total is really small because there aren't many of us- I mean seriously the total cost for us wouldn't pay for eye exams for one block in Toronto. Also the benefit in both the case of autistic kids and transpeople is huge. As a functional member of society I paid over $10,000 in Ontario tax this year, so the payback on me would have been pretty good if the government had funded my surgery.
    That said, if you want eye exams, spend ten years lobbying- that is what we had to do. There are a lot of young transpeople who won't have to make the choice of 'surgery or tuition' now, and that is a win for the province as a whole, and for the taxpayer.
  30. AJ Flint from Ranger land, Canada writes: 'Cynthia Tebbetts's fingers fidgeted on the steering wheel during the four-hour drive from New Hampshire to Montreal. As his blue Chevy wound its way through New England's mountainous north last January, all he could think about was his'

    Yup; it's a mess.

    Like my buddy Joshua was complaining about yesterday, as she drove me in her boat to the dog clinic to pic up her siamese...

    (I hope those martians get here soon)

    THIS IS COVERED BY OHIP!!?? I WANT MORE MUSCLES....CAN I PUT MY STEROIDS AND IMPLANTS ON OHIP TOO!!??

    EESH
  31. AJ Flint from Ranger land, Canada writes: 'I don't want surgery. I don't need it. But if someone else does, well, how does that hurt you?' It hurts us because it is paid for with taxpayer money. I am not homophobic, nor did I hate or very much prejudice myself when I have met transsexuals. (I am too smart, and likely selfish, to lose friends and/or make enemies based on some minor details; which do not fit the here and now) I do not care what your preference, nor what your sexuality is; as long as it does not effect me. When sex changes are paid for from tax dollars (OHIP); it effects me. If everybody could just change their body to match who they wanted to be, and thought they were best suited as.....what a world it would be. So transexuals are depressed at times, or find life hard at times...WHO DOESNT!? We ALL have our challenges and barriers to our ideals in life. However; we all do not ask the common taxpayer to pay our way there. Nothing personal (promise); but I am against this surgery being paid for by public funds also. I must apologize for my (not so funny) funny above. I was making fun of the confusion created by using the name Cynthia, combined with the pronoun his. (That IS a pronoun isnt it?) I do sympathise with transexuals confusion; but I also sympathise with the confusion of a 5 year old with three dads to date, or someone who never knew their mom, or someone who feels that they do not fit the lifestyle of their own family, or a million and one other folks. `Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls; its a mixxed up muffled up, shook up world`
  32. Wilf Kruggel from Canada writes: Surely the Ontario government, going through a major downturn in their economy, can find an intelligent, more pressing cause to blow hard earned tax dollars on that the health ministers 'kinky' brain-wave of subsidizing sex changes in another bunch of deviates. Wilf
  33. AJ Flint from Ranger land, Canada writes: `Frankly, I'd be more pissed about cleaning up after the smokers, willfully obese and drunks`

    That is a darned good point.

    I`m still on this side though:

    `I have no issue with gay marriage or transgenders, but I have a serious issue with the taxpayer paying for sex change operations. You want to change, fair enough...I couldn't care a less, just pay for it yourself.

    Honestly, if I can't get my eyes checked under OHIP, there is no way I could ever support sex change operations being paid for with tax dollars

    `` I hope they are able to fully integrate into a society that they may not have felt part of`

    How about the born obese girl, or the girl with ugly freckles, or the dude with bright red hair and gangly arms, or the 5th grade girl with facial hair, or the amazingly tall 4th grader. Can we pay for them to change their physical aperarance too. You just KNOW that THEY dont feel a welcomed or fitting part of òur`society either.

    Can you see the slope?
  34. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: I understand your line of thinking AJ, all I can ask is that you trust me that it would cost you more to not treat transsexuals. When I was in my teens I decided I would 'tough it out' as a guy and I think I cost society a lot more in lost productivity and potential health issues from addiction. Let me put it this way- if someone offered you a million dollars if you were willing to live the rest of your life as the other gender, would you do it? Probably not- and that's because what gender we are in our brain isn't something you can override with a few self help tapes or a little force of will. People who don't get treatment don't just end up a bit depressed- half of us end up dead by thirty (Im not making that up) and each of those deaths costs society. Personally it bugs me a little that we pay for all sorts of things, like Catholic schools but not any other religious schools- now that doesn't make much sense and it costs way more than treating a couple of dozen people with a rare condition.
    I don't know what is up with the Globe's pronouns- trying to be edgy I guess. The media likes to make transsexuals seem really cool and exciting and weird- but we are pretty well like everyone else.
  35. Walker fromtheevilempireofAB from Calgary, Canada writes: Issues aside that's got to be one complicated surgery!
  36. Meagan J from Edmonton, Canada writes: I was very upset to see the author use male pronouns for Cynthia at the beginning of the piece. This is extremely disrespectful - and also confusing, as the author returns to the correct female pronouns at the end of the article.
  37. Shane Jordan from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Just had to reread the article to double check. A lot of posters here are slamming the government of Ontario here for covering these operations, but it states that Alberta covers them as well. Does that fact effect anyone's view of the potential need for government funding for these types of medical interventions?
  38. Jack Mrnsie from Canada writes: Thinking back to my youth, 16 yrs old , buying a 1979 corvette, than whammo insurance costs. If this would have been available could have saved about half the cost.
    See there is a positive side to everything, you just have to look forit..
  39. joshua morris from toronto, Canada writes: hey charlotte, i dont understand, you satrted out a man, and changed to a woman and married a woman. Are you straight or gay?
  40. Charlotte Gabrielle from Ottawa, Canada writes: Good question Joshua, and a good piece of evidence that sexuality is also hardwired. I would describe myself as bi but I am definitely more attracted to women. To be honest when I changed sex I had no idea whether my orientation would change as well, but after dating a few guys I had to say- nope. And when I eventually fell in love it was with a woman. As I was already legally female at the time of our marriage that makes us a gay couple. My spouse has no problem with my past.
    One good thing is when I told my parents I was in love with another woman they said 'You kinda buried the needle on the shock-meter with the whole transsexual thing- so this is no problem'
    When I was in my teens that actually gave me some trouble - if I was supposed to be female shouldn't I like guys more than girls? Well, it just doesn't seem to work that way, and I finally realized that if I was alone on a desert island with no dates, no society at all, I would still want a sex change.
    To be honest I don't expect everyone to understand. If I didn't happen to be one I would think transsexuals were pretty darn weird. I don't really think about being transsexual much these days, but I think it is important the public at least know enough about us to not feel totally shocked and horrified. There are a lot of teen transsexuals out there and I don't want it to be as hard for them as it was for me, and I don't want them blowing their brains out behind the barn.
    If you want to be mad at the government for wasting money, be mad that the same government that de-listed sex reassignment also gave one of our highways to a private company. It bugs me every time I drive on it.
  41. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: If the Ontario Government can fork out 20 or 30 grand for some person who is not sure who they are, surely to God Almighty they can fork over the 35-75 dollars for a Prostate test that some senior can't afford it. I know I can't.
  42. Claude Carriere from Canada writes: Thank you Charlotte for your input, gender identity is a complex issue. If we were to place gender identity (not physical sexual body parts) on a scale from 1 to 10 where Pure men are 1 and Pure women are ten, most men would be somewhere between 3-5 and most women would be somewhere between 5-7. All of us have traits of the the other gender in one way or another. Charlotte and Cynthia happen to have more traits of the other than most of us, to a point where their lives are adverselly affected. If our society allowed men to dress and express themselves without having to adhere to all the chest thumping macho crap, maybe the operations may not be needed. The natives used to allow for two-spirit people. These people were able to move freely about their society without the fear of homophobic or religious zealots punishing them for their identity. If western society would progress socially and spiritually at the same pace that our technology is advancing, how much better we would be. The premier of Ontario stated that this would affect (more or less) 10 people per year. Not a huge number. Now, for those people who claim to be opposed to taxpayer funded operations. I have a problem paying good money out of my taxes to fund lung cancer treatment for someone that has smoked all their lives, they should pay for it out of their own pockets. I do not have children, I do not see why I should pay tax money to fix their broken bones from sports injuries, it was a choice to play or not. I identify with the eye argument, as I wear glasses. I could not live and work without them, why does the government not pay for my glasses. I could go on, where do we draw the line exactly? I have a problem paying for senseless war in a foreign country, you may disagree, but where do we draw the line? Like Charlotte stated, if you want the government to pay for your eye exams, lobby for it, don't whine and put down others for their achievements.
  43. Claude Carriere from Canada writes: Thank you Charlotte for your input, gender identity is a complex issue. If we were to place gender identity (not physical sexual body parts) on a scale from 1 to 10 where Pure men are 1 and Pure women are ten, most men would be somewhere between 3-5 and most women would be somewhere between 5-7. All of us have traits of the the other gender in one way or another. Charlotte and Cynthia happen to have more traits of the other than most of us, to a point where their lives are adverselly affected. If our society allowed men to dress and express themselves without having to adhere to all the chest thumping macho crap, maybe the operations may not be needed. The natives used to allow for two-spirit people. These people were able to move freely about their society without the fear of homophobic or religious zealots punishing them for their identity. If western society would progress socially and spiritually at the same pace that our technology is advancing, how much better we would be. The premier of Ontario stated that this would affect (more or less) 10 people per year. Not a huge number. Now, for those people who claim to be opposed to taxpayer funded operations. I have a problem paying good money out of my taxes to fund lung cancer treatment for someone that has smoked all their lives, they should pay for it out of their own pockets. I do not have children, I do not see why I should pay tax money to fix their broken bones from sports injuries, it was a choice to play or not. I identify with the eye argument, as I wear glasses. I could not live and work without them, why does the government not pay for my glasses. I could go on, where do we draw the line exactly? I have a problem paying for senseless war in a foreign country, you may disagree, but where do we draw the line? Like Charlotte stated, if you want the government to pay for your eye exams, lobby for it, don't whine and put down others for their achievements.
  44. harry carnie from Northern, B.C, Canada writes: Well...........good luck to them all....Hope they DO live happier lives.
    At my age my equipment is not in the best of shape
    but will still hang on to it.

    Do agree that eye balls (exams) should be covered on our health plans as well.
    If we......NO.. will NOT continue that line of thought.......
  45. bethany middleton from Canada writes: Charlotte Gabrielle:
    Thanks for sharing what are actually quite intimate details of your life and your sexuality. It shouldn't be necessary for you to lay yourself bare to a bunch of folks who don't know you, but you've provided a needed education and offered a really human face to the whole issue.
  46. Doris Wrench Eisler from St. Albert. AB, Canada writes: D T from Canada - if you only know what it feels like to be you and not a part of the group, 'male' , you are unusual. Most people do identify with a gender group and with the outlook, mannerisms, tastes, behavior, etc. generally associated with it. Most of that is artificial to be sure, and the sooner societies eliminate these differences the better, in my humble opinion. But, if as you imply, such distinctions are artificial then there is no great harm in going from one to the other physically. Especially when not doing so causes great psychological suffering. Transgendering is no more mental than is not accepting any particular society's idea of what constitutes male and female 'ness'. In the past many people were designated 'abnormal' for that very reason, and 'treatment' forced on them.
  47. J.C. Davies from Canada writes:
    'F E from ottawa, Canada writes: I don't understand some of the comments, why are people so against others being happy. If the surgery allows someone be happy, than what's wrong with it? '

    Should the public pay for breast implants, nose jobs and facelifts? All these make people happy too.
  48. Charles Smith from United Kingdom writes: I think people are kidding themselves if they think doctors can remove real male human parts and make real female human parts. I think it is sad that people can be so easily fooled.
  49. Sean L. from Toronto, the capital of corruption, Canada writes: Frankly, I do not care what elective surgery people choose to get - it is none of my business, that is until Smitherman decided to make it taxpayer funded. This is elective cosmetic surgery, regardless of what claims people may promote. It is not a birth defect. It is not life threatening. Removing a person's sex organs does not change their DNA - you are still guy, except now you (may) LOOK like a girl. If you want to think otherwise, fine, just as long as you don't ask the rest of us to pay for your cosmetic surgery. People are not entitled to plastic surgery, meanwhile there are plenty of disorders such as vision which should be covered but are not. It is outrageous that life threatening conditions like prostrate cancer screening are not covered, and $40 eye exams have been de-listed, but Smitherman thinks its Ok to ask taxpayer to pay for this $17000 cosmetic surgery. Long before they even dream of considering coverage for this they should have restored eye exams, and maybe even laser corrective eye surgery. and there are a host of other real medical conditions that are not covered including certain cancer treatments, non-invasive herniated disk surgeries, etc etc... While you are at it, I'm sure there are many fat people who feel they are thin people trapped in a fat body. How about some liposuction for them? No you say? Then you can not justify this frivolous use of tax money. Guess I'll have to settle for a class action suit against smitherman.
  50. Erica Kat from Canada writes: This is just one of those things that most people don't and will not ever understand (unless you go through it or know someone who has gone through it). Just like I don't understand what it's like (hope I never will) to go through a terminal disease.
    My biggest beef with some of the comments is 'Why should my tax dollars pay for this'. I ask you, Why should this person who may be going through this, have their tax dollars pay for someone going in for surgery caused by smoking? Don't both these people deserve fair health coverage, without judgement? Or why should my tax dollars go to fixing your ankle? It should because we all pay into it and all deserve access to OHIP. I would not judge you because you have a bad ankle.

    It's a two way street. In most case I would think that the person who needs this surgery has been working and contributing to OHIP just the same as the rest of us. Please, don't judge someone. Everyone is equal, that's why we live here.

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