A sex change operation due to be broadcast live on the Web tomorrow has been postponed due to "pre-operative complications". A man -- known as William -- who should have left an unidentified hospital somewhere on the West Coast of the US as Julie, will now have to wait until the surgeon, who doesn't want to named, feels that it's safe to proceed with the operation (This is beginning to read like a soap-opera - Ed). William/Julie is currently "at risk" if the six-hour procedure goes ahead, the surgeon said. "We are extremely disappointed that the surgery will not take place as scheduled, but the health and safety of the patient must come first," said Seth Warshavsky, president of IEG, the adult entertainment company which is behind the broadcast. Anyone who has already paid $9.95 in advance to watch the operation will get a refund, said Warshavsky, who also said that another date would be set for the operation. But this has failed to convince sceptics who believe this is nothing more than a hoax and that it has been contrived simply to gain publicity. The gender change operation was originally scheduled to take place last November. ®