A Quebec doctor has received a three-month suspension from the Quebec College of Physicians for misgendering a transgender patient.
The ruling from the college states that Dr. Raymond Brière, a Montreal physician with over 40 years of practice, had “an inappropriate and disrespectful attitude” towards the patient – who he referred to as a biological woman.
As reported by La Presse, the complaint stems from a May 2022 appointment where the trans-identifying female patient met with the doctor in hopes to begin hormone therapy to appear more male.
The patient recorded the appointment on their phone.
According to the ruling, the patient told Brière about a desire to “move on to the next stage in their transformation, which is hormone intake.” This came after socially transitioning a year ago and having changed pronouns.
The doctor asked the patient several questions, in hopes to go slowly, amid having “little experience with trans people.”
Brière also warned the patient of the side effects of hormone therapy – which caused tension. Among other things, he noted that male hormones can make one more aggressive, to which the patient said his assertion seemed to be based on stereotypes.
The doctor told the patient he’d “never prescribed hormones to a person who wants to ‘turn into a man,’” and proposed to refer the patient to one of his colleagues who deals with people who are transitioning.
The patient told Brière about a desire to use a testosterone gel “to encourage a slow, gradual transformation of the body,” to which Brière said that females can apply testosterone gels with a pump.
The biologically female patient then reminded the doctor that they are not a woman.
“You were a woman, dear lady,” Brière told the patient during the appointment.
This became a source of tension during the appointment, with the trans patient objecting to the doctor pointing out the patient’s biological sex.
“If a chromosomal analysis is carried out, it will be shown that their chromosomes carry XX genes, not XY,” noted Brière, who also told the patient that they are a man “in your brain.”
The patient accused Brière of having “ready-made opinions,” while the doctor responded that the patient thought that “because your circle is the absolute truth.” The patient also accused the doctor of being aggressive, to which the doctor said, under emotion, that does not take “any lessons” to take from a (female) patient.
He ended the appointment.
The trans patient re-stated that they are a man, to which the Brière said “a (female) patient until that day, you were a woman, dear lady.” The patient repeated that they were a man, to which the doctor said that they are “biologically a woman.”
The ruling notes that before leaving, the patient tried to get the referral to that other doctor previously mentioned, but Brière refused. He also said he did not want to have the individual as a patient anymore — citing a breach of trust.
After the appointment, the transgender patient filed a complaint with the Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre, claiming that they were subject to discrimination and aggressivity.
However, an investigator concluded that while there was “a problem with the quality of the professional relationship and a lack of respect for the patient,” Brière did not discriminate against the patient.
Unsatisfied with the response, the patient took the complaint to the Quebec College of Physicians.
The college issued a ruling favouring the patient. Brière pleaded guilty to two counts of infractions, amid the college also taking issue with the fact that the doctor would not refer the patient to his colleague.
Brière will serve two debarment periods, of three months and two months respectively, at the same time.
In his defence, the doctor took issue with the patient’s recording of the conversation.
“The attitude of the patient, who turns up for the appointment on May 17, 2022, recording the meeting and being somewhat wary of consulting (the patient) to agree on a treatment plan for masculinizing hormones, indicates at best a problem or the non-existence of the mutual trust necessary for the professional relationship.”
The college however seemed bothered by that concern, placing the onus on the doctor.
The decision to sanction Brière was widely criticized on X (formerly Twitter), with several individuals defending him.
Canadian Parental rights advocate Chris Elston (commonly known as Billboard Chris) described Brière as “one of these old-fashioned truth-tellers who isn’t going to join (the patient’s) cult.”
He also accused the patient of being “out to get him disciplined for not respecting her magical, delusional gender identity, and the medical regulatory bodies which have been fully captured by this body-destroying cult were happy to oblige.”
Renowned Canadian author and psychologist Jordan Peterson also chimed in, comparing Brière’s experience to what he is experiencing with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
