When Allan George Matthews removed another individual’s testicle in a Port Macquarie motel, he thought he was doing the right thing. The 58-ye ar-old, who is not a doctor, found himself in the grisly situation in May 2016 after answering an ad on social media requesting help with a medical issue. The ad had been posted by an unnamed 52-year-old looking to undergo gender confirmation surgery from male to female. Matthews volunteered his services for the DIY procedure, telling his future victim he was “medically trained and had an extensive medical kit and happy to help to assist with your pathway”. For the record, that medical training existed of a first aid certificate and some vet experience.
Not surprisingly, things didn’t go well. After the motel surgery, the two exchanged several texts about the wound weeping and within 10 days the “patient” had visited their local GP for a second opinion. Realising something very wrong had happened, the real doctor told them to go to hospital. The patient later underwent surgery at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
Videos by VICE
The following month Matthews was arrested and charged for his strange and misguided piece of charity. When police searched his Glen Innes home they seized medical and electronic equipment, firearms, and several bottles of a substance that appeared to be amyl nitrate. Matthews pleaded guilty to a string of charges that included reckless grievous bodily harm and admitted he did not have any medical qualifications whatsoever.
While some imitate doctors for the obvious financial rewards, Matthews did not appear to be financially motivated, seeking no payment for his role. Rather, the former aircraft engineer appeared to be driven by a strange sense of altruism, admitting he felt sorry for the victim.
At the sentencing this month Judge Clive Jeffreys said that with a case this strange, he was struggling to find other, similar instances to inform his decision. But he did note that Matthews had shown contrition over his role, and was unlikely to reoffend or find himself in a similar situation again. He observed Matthews was clearly remorseful, and it was more a situation of extreme naivety than malice. Finally, he took into account the fact Matthews had already suffered the consequences of his actions when he lost his job.
Ultimately, the judge deferred from passing a sentence, placing Matthews on a good behaviour bond for five years for causing grievous bodily harm and reckless bodily harm.
For more from VICE:
Trans People Tell Us About Their Transition Breakthroughs
