User:JonBuck/Changing America/Frasier Interview

This interview took place at the Harborview Medical Center in downtown Seattle. The receptionist pointed me to the newly-created Furry Medicine Department where Dr. Frasier has his office. Serena and I found the area by scent and the sheer disorganization. Apparently the department had only just been created a couple weeks ago. Veterinarians and human doctors have been basically thrown into the mix together. From the harried odors and expressions, it's not getting off to a good start. We met Dr. Frasier in his office. Full transcript follows.

Richard Sobel: Thank you for agreeing to see us, Doctor. We know how frantic things must be right now. I understand you just got back from Washington?

Dr. Edward Frasier: You're not going to ask me about the Sandrick Hearings, are you? I've had my fill of that crap.

RS: I don't need to go over that again. Your testimony and the interviews you've given the other members of the media cover everything. Congratulations on the pardon, though.

EF: We did what needed to be done, even if we had to break the law to save lives. The President saw that, bless her soul.

RS: To start off, can you tell me about your daughter and when you first realized something was amiss?

EF: Annette Changed... wow... almost seven years ago now. She was thirteen at the time. I was able to see through the Veil since she Changed; basically I could switch it on and off. For a while I thought I was having hallucinations, possibly psychosis. I started to draw what I saw. Only when I met Dr. Clay did I convince myself that I was seeing what was real, and that I wasn't just going insane. I wasn't exactly a model student in college and med school. Did some things I'm not proud of.

The problem is that I kept seeing furfolk brought into the hospital. I didn't do my best work during those tense years, I can tell you.

RS: Did you treat them?

EF: My specialty is abdominal surgery, so if they were in my area, yes. I saw furfolk brought in with injuries and illnesses that had no human counterpart. Badly broken tails. In one case, an amputated lemur's tail. Patients died because they reacted badly to medication and untreated wounds. I recall one bighorn sheep brought in who had part of his skull missing because one horn had been ripped off in a construction accident. I interfered whenever I could, but the Veil was pretty tight back then. At least for everyone else but me.

Thankfully for every furry who died due to unavoidable medical errors there were one or two who went through surgeries without problems. The Veil translated everything correctly. It's not doing that any more, which is why we have this Department now. Every hospital's going to have one right quick.

RS: When did you first become a part of the furry community?

EF: Late 2004 or so. Annette insisted that I start putting my art up on the web. So I opened a Deviant Art account under an assumed name and started posting drawings of my daughter and the other furs I'd met here and there. By them there were Changed and Known communities forming--thanks to Sandrick's efforts I might add--so they sent me photos and I would draw them.

RS: I heard you got some nasty surprises and requests.

EF: (He actually looked ill) You have no idea. I still refuse to draw any yiff, though I have drawn nudes. Besides, since I Changed myself in '08 I've had to learn how to draw all over again. Marten fingers are a little stubby, and the claws don't retract. Unlike yours, Mr. Sobel.

RS: You'd be amazed, Doctor.

EF: I'm certain I would. I live in a state of constant amazement. Call it "Furry Shock", sort of like "Culture Shock" or "Future Shock". We see three to four people here daily in the midst of a Change, since the out-of-phase changes started. Even one or two Gender-Changed, though those tend to take minutes rather than the hour or more that's pretty common with furries. What we're really trying to observe is the history editing in process. But by the time they get here it's already been done. I understand you and your wife are role-reversed?

Serena Sobel: It's fairly complicated. But that's more or less correct.

RS: I've been a man since '01. Only got the stripes last November.

EF: Another out-of-phase. I'm afraid I have to cut this interview short. We're trying to mash together two completely different medical disciplines here. Thankfully with the economy the way it is, since we're offering money for testing furs to establish baselines we have no trouble finding volunteers.

Oh, and my daughter follows your blog pretty religiously. She told me she'd be thrilled if you needed someone else to interview.

RS: We'll keep that in mind on the way south, Doctor. Thank you for your time.

Unfortunately Judge Pickford had to cancel. Hopefully Dr. Clay won't cancel also, but he's been very difficult to contact.

Posted by: Richard da Tiger, March 29, 2010; 10:20 am. (28 comments)

Comments

User: Annie Vix '03

My Dad doesn't talk much, does he? Guess he has a lot on his mind lately. The Portland media's been all over me lately, but I'm still open if you two want to interview me. Hope to see you soon!

March 29, 2010 12:58 pm PST.

<p style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; background-color: #7FFFD4;">User: JustAnotherVixen</p>

You were how old when you Changed? Thirteen? You have my sympathies. I Changed when I was almost thirty, I can't imagine what vulpine-human puberty must be like. It can't be much worse then the estrus we get already, I hope.

<p style="text-variant: italic; margin-left: 5px;">March 29, 2010 1:25 pm PST.</p>