A conversation with Dr. Kimmel

[Kangan (imported)]

Recently, I have had several long conversations with Dr. Murray H. Kimmel of Philadelphia, Pa. Since there is a lot of interest in this man on the EA, I'll try to describe what I know about him.

Dr. Kimmel is definitely a dedicated healthcare professional. While his views on castration are definitely not mainstream, he is not a back alley ball whacker either.

My first conversation took place last week a few minutes after I made my appointment for a bilateral orchiectomy. The doctor was out of the office, but he got my message and called me back. I think we talked for perhaps 30-minutes (at his expense). He gave me quite a lecture about orchiectomy and how to prep for it, and also the care afterwards. Thankfully, I have a good bit of technical knowledge about medical matters so that I could follow his sometimes very detailed descriptions of how an orchiectomy is done. Dr. Kimmel certainly knows what he is doing, and claims to have done some 12,000 orchiectomies in his career which began back in 1954.

Today, I called his number again. My reason for calling was to make certain that my deposit had reached his office. Expecting his receptionist, Mary, to answer, I got a bit of surprise when the Dr. himself came on the line. It turns out that my caller ID had captured his home telephone number and connected me to his home when I redialed! I immediately apologised, but the good Dr. indicated that he didn't mind my call. (No, I'm not going to post his number here.)

My deposit was fine and my appointment was in the works for Monday October 20th as planned. That bit of business out of the way, I asked Dr. K. a few questions concerning procedure and recovery. Again, I got a long and very detailed answer, at times very technical, which was most informative and enlightening. Then I carefully broached the subject of his age. He would not admit to nearing retirement, and did not want to discuss a possible replacement surgeon, saying that he intended to remain in practice for a long time yet to come. We talked about his predecessor, Dr. Spector, and he indicated that he had taken over his practice some years ago.

Since I am nearing 67, I suggested that perhaps we were both the same age, which he readily agreed to. However, in 1954, I was only 13-years old, so unless he was some sort of child prodigy, I'd hazard a guess that he is in his middle 70's, not 60's as he led me to believe.

He told me about his 4 sons and his 12 grandchildren. I did a little "googling" of my own later on, and found out that 2 of the sons are doctors, one is a veterinarian, and one is a lawyer. So there is hope for a future orchiectomy surgeon perhaps....

The only bad news that he mentioned, was that the Best Western Inn at City Center is going to be razed in the near future (2009) to make way for some fancy condominium apartments. When I get there, I'll try to find out more details.

Dr. Kimmel is very concerned about the kind of life that his patients will lead after the surgery because of the side effects of the lack of male hormones. He mentioned that he gets a lot of referalls from psychologists and psychiatrists. When he mentioned that most GID patients are encouraged to live as women for at least a year, I reassurred him that I had been living as an eunuch for that long already. This explains his insistence on a lengthy entry interview. Hopefully, in my case, I won't need this, thanks to our several telephone consultations.

I didn't press him for an explanation of his motivations to do orchiectomies on short notice, however.

Dr. Kimmel does have an active practice involving all types of urological surgery. He is knowledgable about the new robotic prostate surgery, for example.

To sum it all up - I found Dr. Kimmel to be very well qualified. I'd let him cut my balls off anytime!

[kennath7 (imported)]

Great news I am glad you feel comfortable with dr kimmel

[homptydumpty (imported)]

Please do keep us up to date! I would love to hear how the office & staff have weathered~

Thank you for you post.

z

[vesal_mas (imported)]

Hompty,

Just wanted to say I love your avatar.

Greetings.

Vesal.

[Eddie (imported)]

You will find Dr. Kimmel a gentlemen and a scholar. While you being interviewed in his office, you will have papers to sign and medications he will start you on before the surgery. Then he will lead you down a hall to his operating room.

I think if you factor in him going to medical school, he might be older that we think.

[chilliwilli (imported)]

Kangan-

I'm very pleased to hear that you have chosen castration and I hope that you refrain from HRT. The surgery will not make you "safe" from the stand point of childrens well being. However it will allow you to have a more normal life. Perhaps castration will keep you out of dangerous situations were you could be injured by someone protecting a loved one. I have heard that many molestors have a real fear of physical harm. You may feel "cured" now, however uncut with libido, you could present to an individual who has been shaped by such sexual abuse. U...snipped...put it in private, please...e?

I'm sure castration will help you avoid the urges to molest children and harass the disfigured adults who have already suffered enough. Please do not private message me further.

chilli-

[Paolo]

There's no pleasant way to put this, but I'm going to go ahead and say it anyway.

Chilli, Kangan, et al, you were not the only boys ever to have been molested.

I was - once.

This is something that you need to realize, that anyone who has been through it needs to realize, too - This may be oversimplifying, but you must do what I did, albeit in your own ways - deal with it and move on.

Insulting and threatening one another on the board - and yes, I've read the deleted posts and PM's and edited one post - won't help. If you feel the need to continue this, then do it in private or email and keep it off the boards.

This goes for anyone else, as well.

I've said similar things before, but I have never aimed that particular comment at anyone who came to the Boards and was brave enough to admit having done it and expressed the desire to do something to insure that it doesn't happen again.

I won't rehash my own personal feelings about it here, again, though.

I think it takes a lot of strength to admit it, much less in a public forum, and also to seek help with the problem.

[chilliwilli (imported)]

Paolo-

Thank you for editing my post. I had tried to to tone it down earlier but the shop had closed. However, I do believe it is insensitive and selfish to PM an individual who has to deal with the aftermath of sexual abuse.

sincerely,

chilli

[smoothie36 (imported)]

Based on the 1954 start date, I would assume Dr. K is 82.

He does castrations on demand. He says he does not ask questions. Isn't that what we want? But, we do need a replacement soon.

Do to the housing glut, the Condo replacement of the Best Western seems to be on indefinite hold. Sales office is closed.

[kristoff]

Based on the 1954 start date, I would assume Dr. K is 82.

He does castrations on demand. He says he does not ask questions. Isn't that what we want? But, we do need a replacement soon.

Do to the housing glut, the Condo replacement of the Best Western seems to be on indefinite hold. Sales office is closed.

There are other hotels. A short cab ride might be in order.