Body Integrity Identity Disorder
 

Ah, Body Integrity Identity Disorder... A veritable orchid in the garden of madnesses. Body Integrity Identity Disorder is, for those of you not in the know, when a person feels a strong desire to be an amputee. It is not a sexual desire - that's Apotemnophilia, another little gem all its own - but rather, it is the feeling that one is not ONESELF, that one is not COMPLETE unless one is missing a limb, or a part of a limb, or if one is a parapalegic, or whatever manglement the sufferer feels would make them whole (metaphorically speaking!)

This is often accompanied by the desire to actually chop off the limb - not for the sake of the act itself, but just to get RID of it.

In fact, I recall a story about one woman who wished to rid herself a leg. What she did was, she got a bucket of dry ice, put it in her car and drove to the hospital parking lot, then immersed her leg in it until the damage done to the limb was irreparable. Then she called the hospital to have them wheel her in and, as was the natural conclusion of the doctors by that time, amputate...

Of course, this was a rather deceptive method of getting rid of the limb, but it is so difficult to find a good doctor who will get rid of a healthy body part just because you want it gone. ... Although transgenders seem to have done rather well for themselves in that area.

So, what do you think? Should people with Body Integrity Identity Disorder be allowed to amputate their own limbs? Or shall we decide what's best for them ourselves?

First of all, transgenders are very different than people with this disorder. It may seem similar, what with each wishing to rid themselves of a supposed healthy body part to feel better or complete with themselves. But a male to female transgender would be simply replacing their body part, from a penis to a vagina. They could live with a vagina instead of a penis. However, the process of losing a limb is potentially lethal and I would assume much more dangerous than a gender changing surgery.

Having a penis instead of a vagina is much different than using a prosthetic limb instead of a real one. And besides, the person with the disorder would probably not wish to replace their limb and instead survive without it. They would probably need social security since it'd be rather hard to get a job with a missing limb, or they would rely on others for support. Transgenders wouldn't need help from others money wise, or social security.

The negatives outweigh the positives, so no, they should not be allowed to amputate a whole limb simply because they wish to.

So as long as you're being replaced by SOMETHING normal, it's alright then? Hmm, I suppose that DOES make all the difference. Certainly it's one explanation as to why neutrois transgenders have such a hard time of things.

I suppose you're right, it's better for society; certainly they would not need to go on welfare if they simply suffered along with it productively, or committed suicide due to the depression caused by their condition.

I don't know what a neutrois transgender is, so I'll have to look that up.

And it's extremely difficult to understand what you're typing half the time because I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or being honest. If they committed suicide due to the fact they chopped their own limb off, well, I can't say I feel sorry for them. They knew the burden and what would happen with being at loss of a limb. They did it on purpose, they wanted the limb off. Why should my taxes go to someone who wishes to chop their limb off on purpose? I'd gladly give it to someone who had it blown off in the war or something, as an accident and they wanted to keep their limb.

I applaud that. Neutrois?

The fact is that I may be a mix of both. I do not want to indicate that I approve or disapprove. I am merely pointing out the fact that they might commit suicide if they feel that they can neither live with the limb nor without it, as one might think if it is expected that one would lose one's job immediately upon losing any limb.

Ah, I see what a neutrois is. Still, one can survive without the genitals and live without any major changes. My mother had a hysterectomy, and she survives with no uterus or ovaries and the lucky woman no longer menstruates. Albeit she had the surgery because she had cysts on her ovaries and it wasn't because she simply wanted it, she can live and survive without any major changes. Living without an arm or leg, however, would require many lifestyle changes.

They really should have considered how their life would be if they had to live without a limb, and if they feel they cannot survive any longer because of their wanted surgery, well then that's just too bad.

Just to give some input, last summer I broke my femur in two places. The femur is also known as the thigh bone. Sure, it still existed and it wasn't completely amputated, but I think it's a somewhat decent analogy. For more than a month I could not apply any pressure to that leg and had to walk with a walker at first, then crutches. It was nearly impossible to go on for that month without that leg in use. I am thankful I was able to heal and I am nearly at full capacity. Still, my leg will never quite be the same and I live with pain every day. I would never wish to amputate, though, because living with stiffness and a little pain is much better than living without the leg at all, in my opinion.

That is true, though I am sure there are many who would argue. How, then, would you feel about amputation of a smaller appendage, such as a finger or a toe?

I must be saying this in the wrong way, let me clarify: the suicide happens BEFORE any attempt at amputation, because they feel they CAN NEITHER live with or without the amputation. People who feel that they'll be fine afterwards just go ahead and find some way to rid themselves of it. Although personally, the fact that they are willing to risk their lives in order to do so might speak a little of the sort of suffering that leads them to make such a risky decision.

I'm also quite glad you got to keep the leg, and I am sorry about your pain. I understand that most people's limbs are very important to them. However, to people with this dysmophia, it may seem preferable to live without one in ways which are difficult to imagine.

I believe as long as they can live and survive normally, sure, why not, let them chop off a finger. Chopping off all the fingers would probably not be good, considering you wouldn't be able to live normally then.

And my apologies, I thought you meant they attempted suicide after realizing they were mistaken and couldn't live without the limb. People who attempt suicide should receive treatment and get professional help about the issue. People believe they can't live without their loved ones and try to kill themselves if their relationship ends, but they can, if they can some help. People with this disorder should probably get some help, considering how dangerous it would be to caught off their own limb (if they were to do so, since as of now I know of no sane doctor who would voluntarily remove a limb at the patient request).

It may seem like it is preferable, but it's not. I'd like to see an example of someone who likes that their limb is gone and would never wish for it to return.

This article from Newsweek is about a boy who self amputated and is happy now.
BIID: Why Sufferers Amputate Their Own Limbs - Newsweek

I also saw a documentary on TV about this once, and the people interviewed who had gone through with it all seemed content and non-regretful.

I think it should be fine to do this if it can be diagnosed, because otherwise many will attempt it themselves, as they already do. On the note of social security etc. I do not care, because I look at it as this is a mental disorder. And there are plenty of instances where we give resources to aid people with mental disorders, why should it be different with these people? Also, They are likely to self-amputate and lie about it anyways and get the benefits.

Excuse me, but I live as genderless as possible and I have a fine time keeping a job and being functional in society. I do bind my breasts and I do hide my more "female" features because it does bother me so much. If I could afford it I would not have breasts or female reproductive organs. At the same time I do not wish to look "male" either. It is not the same thing as major amputee surgery.

The worst feeling is to not feel "at home" or "one" with your own body. I understand somewhat where they are coming from in that aspect. I don't see what the big deal is if they only want a finger or something like that chopped off. They should however, have to go through mental testing to make sure it's not just another mental illness talking. I do not feel that doctors should be allowed to do anything that would render someone's abilities to be a functional person in society.

Well, it's their body. If they feel the need to have a a limb amputated then why not? It might not make sense (which it does not to me), but it is their body, which should make it their choice. It might not be best for them physically, but it could possibly help them mentally.

I kind of understand how you would connect transgender people with this disorder, but I don't think it's as much wanting to get rid of a limb (or add a limb), as it is they're uncomfortable with their gender and the organ just comes along with that.

I think the idea behind the comparison, Manders, is that in both cases the subject views their body as somehow "wrong", simply not what they feel it should be, and in both cases it goes far beyond just a preference or ideal look they want to achieve.

I'm not against it, since there does seem to be evidence that these people are suffering because they have a limb they feel they shouldn't have. However, before they go through this I feel they should be evaluated to make sure they're absolutely aware of what it'll mean and what it entails. Much like the torture they put transgenders through when they're trying to complete their transformation.

I saw the special on TV that some people are talking about. A few of them did try the dry ice trick and failed horribly. I also a remember a man who was pretend he'd had his leg amputated since he didn't have the nerve to get it done or do it himself.

Also, do not compare transgenders to the people who do this. They are not the same, caused by different things. I'm pretty sure changing genders is a lot bigger of a change than just lopping off your own hand. With transgenders they have to have their names changed, their licenses, and many other things according to where they live. They also have to take loads of hormones to make sure the transition is smooth. They also have to go through loads of psychological evaluations to make sure they're really what they claim to be. Someone of a gender in a body that's a different sex.

Personally I don't care what people do to their own bodies as long as...

A: They don't do it to other people

B: I don't have to take care of them (That includes paying for their welfare should they be unable to work because they chopped off a limb.)

I think that they should do whatever they want to do with their body...if it's just a minor limb that won't really matter like a finger or a toe then most people won't notice anyways. And if it's a major limb and they are happier without it than they are with it then they should get a doctor to get rid of it...just in case it doesn't get infected or something nasty like that. If they absolutely have to self-amputate it, then just don't do it in public.

Why the hell would you want to be an amputee?
And NO people this disorder should not be allowed to cut their own limbs off... ><
No doctor would be stupid enough to take a chainsaw to their limbs. Gross...

I know, sounds gross, right? But what if you had a part of your body that you felt didn't belong there? You would OBVIOUSLY try to get rid of it, right? And you're right, no doctor would take a chainsaw and...I won't repeat it. And if they did amputate it they would have to go through surgery and all that shit.

I suppose one would have to ask why one would feel that their body was "wrong". I suppose you could widen the debate to include all forms of plastic surgery. The fact that this is an extreme case of it is irrelevant, as I'd imagine that the underlying currents and issues are largely the same.

Transgender and transsexual are very different...not everyone who is trans gets a sex change operation.

The medical profession is there to not do harm. Limb amputation can be very dangerous (as well as sex change). People who are trans and are going through a sex change have to do a process that is YEARS long including counseling, hormone therapy, and living as their new gender full time for over a year.

I think amputation should be the last resort to intense therapy which includes hospitalization if they are at risk of chopping off their own limbs. Would you let someone with Body Dysmorphic Disorder starve themselves or get plastic surgery to change a body part knowing they very well may still be sick afterwards?