BBC Hindi Quotes Dr. Ashutosh Shah of Elegance Clinic on Gender Affirming Surgery in Surat – Here Is the Full Story

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In May 2026, BBC Hindi published an investigative report on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 and its impact on transgender patients across India. At the center of that story was a real patient, a real doctor, and a real crisis unfolding in clinics like ours. Dr. Ashutosh Shah of Elegance Clinic, Surat was quoted directly by BBC Hindi as a medical expert on why gender affirming surgery in Surat and across India has come to a sudden halt. This blog explains what happened, what Dr. Shah actually said, and what it means for you as a patient.

The Patient Who Came to Elegance Clinic And Then Faced a Wall

The BBC Hindi story centers around Samar Sharma, a 23-year-old transgender man from Karnal, Haryana. Samar had been fighting for legal recognition of his gender identity for years. In December 2024, he traveled to Elegance Clinic in Surat and underwent a hysterectomy as part of his gender affirming care. It was a major step in his journey.

In early 2026, after the Transgender Amendment Bill was tabled in Parliament, Samar called Elegance Clinic to plan his next procedures. The response he received reflected the new reality: the doctor now needed a medical certificate, and would be required to inform the District Magistrate after any gender affirming surgery. The process that had once been guided by self-identity and a GID certificate had become entangled in legal uncertainty.

Samar’s experience is not unique. Across India, hundreds of transgender individuals who were midway through their transition journeys found their plans suddenly paused. Elegance Clinic’s experience with Samar is exactly why BBC Hindi reached out to Dr. Ashutosh Shah, because his clinic has been in the middle of this reality, not on the sidelines of it.

What Dr. Ashutosh Shah Actually Said to BBC Hindi

BBC Hindi contacted Dr. Ashutosh Shah for his expert medical perspective, and he spoke with characteristic honesty. His full statement is published in the BBC Hindi article (May 19, 2026):

“This bill was introduced by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. But doctors receive their practice guidelines from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Medical Commission (NMC). Neither of these bodies has clarified anything yet. This has created massive fear and confusion among doctors, and gender affirming surgery has completely stopped.”

This is a precise, factual description of a regulatory gap, not a complaint or political statement. The law changed via one ministry; the guidelines doctors must follow come from a different authority entirely. Until those two are aligned, surgeons across India, including in Surat, cannot safely proceed. Dr. Shah named this problem clearly, and that transparency is what makes his voice credible in a national media outlet like BBC Hindi.

Why Did BBC Choose Dr. Ashutosh Shah and Elegance Clinic?

BBC Hindi did not reach out to Dr. Shah at random. They contacted him because Elegance Clinic already had a documented patient : Samar Sharma, who had undergone gender affirming surgery at the clinic in December 2024, and who had subsequently been affected by the new bill. The clinic sits at the intersection of the medical reality and the legal crisis the article was investigating.

Dr. Shah’s willingness to speak on record, name the specific government bodies involved, and describe the situation with technical clarity made him the right expert for a serious investigative piece. You can learn more about his 22-year surgical background on the About Dr. Ashutosh Shah page.

What Is the Transgender Amendment Bill 2026 and What Did It Change?

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 was passed in Lok Sabha on March 24 and in Rajya Sabha on March 25, 2026. President Draupadi Murmu signed it into law on March 30, 2026. The key changes:

• The definition of “transgender person” has been narrowed to specific socio-cultural identities: kinnars, hijras, aravanis, jogtis, and intersex individuals. Transgender men are no longer explicitly included.
• The self-identity provision, which allowed transgender individuals to identify their gender without a medical board’s approval, has been removed.
• A medical board must now certify a person’s transgender status before gender affirming surgeries can proceed.
• Medical institutions performing such surgeries must inform the District Magistrate with the patient’s full details, raising serious privacy concerns.

As Dr. Shah explained to BBC Hindi, this legal vacuum has created a situation where doctors cannot safely proceed without clear regulatory protection. The National Medical Commission has not yet issued updated guidelines. The Supreme Court of India took up the matter on May 4, 2026, issuing notices to the central government, all states, and union territories.

What This Means for Patients Seeking Gender Affirming Surgery in Surat

Gender affirming surgeries are currently paused at most clinics across India, including in Surat, pending guidance from the NMC and the DGHS. This is a response to genuine legal ambiguity not a policy choice by individual doctors. Both patients and surgeons are exposed to risk without clear regulatory protection.

For patients who are mid-transition or planning procedures, the most important step right now is to consult with a doctor who understands both the medical and legal dimensions. At Elegance Clinic, we continue to offer consultations and prepare patients for when surgeries resume. Reach out on WhatsApp for a confidential conversation.

Gender Affirming Surgery Services at Elegance Clinic, Surat

Elegance Clinic has been offering gender affirming and sex change surgery for years, with Dr. Ashutosh Shah’s team among the most experienced in India. When the legal framework permits, the following services are available:

• FTM Top Surgery — chest masculinization including double incision and periareolar techniques
• Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) — forehead contouring, rhinoplasty, jaw reshaping, and lip work
• Hysterectomy as part of FTM transition
• Body contouring and liposuction to align physique with gender identity
• Voice feminization procedures
• Hair restoration and laser hair removal for transition needs
• Breast surgery for both MTF augmentation and FTM reduction

Patients traveling from outside Surat can find logistical support on our Visiting Us From Afar page. EMI options are available at eleganceclinic.in/emi/.

FAQ: Gender Affirming Surgery & Elegance Clinic

Q1. Why was Dr. Ashutosh Shah of Elegance Clinic quoted in BBC Hindi?

BBC Hindi quoted Dr. Shah because a patient who had undergone gender affirming surgery at Elegance Clinic in December 2024 was directly affected by the Transgender Amendment Bill 2026. Dr. Shah explained the regulatory gap between the law’s ministry and the bodies (DGHS and NMC) that issue guidelines to doctors.

Q2. Why have gender affirming surgeries stopped in India?

The Transgender Amendment Bill 2026 changed the legal framework, but the National Medical Commission and DGHS have not yet issued updated guidelines. This gap has left surgeons without a legally safe framework, causing surgeries to pause across India.

Q3. Can I still consult at Elegance Clinic for gender affirming surgery?

Yes. While surgeries are paused, Elegance Clinic is available for consultations. Contact us on WhatsApp +91 83205 00350 or via our contact page.

Q4. What did the Transgender Amendment Bill 2026 change?

The bill narrowed the definition of transgender persons, removed the self-identity provision, made medical board certification mandatory before surgeries, and required hospitals to report cases to the District Magistrate. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing petitions challenging the bill.

Q5. What gender affirming surgeries does Elegance Clinic, Surat offer?

Elegance Clinic offers FTM Top Surgery, Facial Feminization Surgery, hysterectomy, body contouring, voice feminization, hair restoration, laser hair removal, and breast surgery for both FTM and MTF transitions, all led by Dr. Ashutosh Shah, a board-certified plastic surgeon with 22+ years of experience.

Conclusion

Samar Sharma’s story, a young transgender man who trusted Elegance Clinic for his hysterectomy in December 2024 and then faced a legal wall when he returned for more care is the story of hundreds of transgender individuals across India right now. Dr. Ashutosh Shah did not look away from this reality when BBC Hindi called. He explained it plainly, named the responsible institutions, and called for the clarity that patients need.

The legal landscape will evolve, guidelines will come, and surgeries will resume. Elegance Clinic will be ready with the same compassionate, expert-led care that earned the trust of the BBC and its patients.

Ready to consult? WhatsApp +91 83205 00350  |  Book online at eleganceclinic.in/contact/