The Public Health Ministry is on the trail of rogue doctors and back-street surgeons lopping off the testicles of young boys.

It's responding to the horror complaint by a gay-rights activist group that the illegal operations are being performed.

The ministry immediately launched a countrywide search for unprincipled practitioners luring customers with tales of the operation being a "cheap" alternative to gender-reassignment procedures and surgery.

The activist blew the whistle on this practice to the Medical Council, explaining it was being illegally and poorly performed on teenagers by beauty clinics, unqualified surgeons and unprincipled doctors.

Prosecution for quacks

Those breaking the law will be prosecuted, the Medical Registration Division, which licenses clinics, says. Chief Dr Tara Chinakarn says it will prosecute those breaking regulations at once.

The law prohibits this kind of surgery on those aged under 18 and without parental permission. Sentences are one year's jail and/or a Bt20,000 fine.

Tara calls on parents to expose clinics that have operated on their children. He promises to track down fly-by-night clinics and those operating without parental permission, he tells frantic mothers and fathers.

One of the capital's best-known sex-change clinics was one of the first stops for health inspectors yesterday. Ministry staff found nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, Mint, a 19-year-old transsexual who recently had his testicles removed by a clinician in Bangkok, says a transvestite told him the operation was "a cheap way to look like a woman". He was told his skin would be smoother and more feminine after the cut.

He failed to seek more information about the procedure and did not know about side-effects and mental-health dangers.

He did consider the procedure for four months, but was eventually swayed by his friend's assurances it "would change my life forever".

Straight from the horse's mouth

"I knew I wanted to be a woman since I was a little boy, and now I had my chance to be what I wanted to be. I don't care about long-term side effects. I'll be an old woman. It is too far in the future for me," says Mint, the only name he was prepared to give the Daily Xpress.

However, he says it's important for transsexuals to "really know" they want to spend the rest of their lives as women.

He says consulting one's parents "is essential. Just make sure you really want this. It's very important for both your life and your family's," he cautions.

  An old pro

One of the city's best-known plastic surgeons and gender-reassignment experts,

Dr Thep Thepvisit, reveals he's removed the testicles of as many as 500 people over the past four years.

His patients seek the operation because they hope it'll make them look feminine.

His Pratunam Polyclinic offers the operation only for those aged 18 or older and competent to make the decision. The youngest patient he has operated on was 25 and the oldest 60.

Thep has been a plastic surgeon for more than 20 years. His customers come from all over the country and the world. He cautions those 16 or younger against having the operation because their bodies are not yet fully formed. He advises they wait and ask their parents before going further.

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

DAILY XPRESS