NL-I’m not sure how I feel about this… I don’t like the idea of my tax dollars paying for a convicted murderer to have an expensive operation (no matter what that operation is) But then do sick prisoners not deserve medical care? Should there be a list if what they can have and what they can’t? I guess what bothers me most is that good hard working people can’t afford these operations so they don’t get them, but someone who murders a person does… How do you feel about it?
From Cnn.com
(CNN) — A federal court judge on Tuesday ordered Massachusetts officials to provide sex-reassignment surgery for a transsexual prison inmate, after determining that it was the only adequate treatment for the inmate’s mental illness.
The state’s Department of Correction said Michelle Kosilek, previously known as Robert, who is serving a life sentence without parole for murdering his wife in 1990, has a gender identity disorder.
She attempted to castrate herself and tried to commit suicide twice while incarcerated in an all-male prison in Norfolk, according to a court order.
"We are very happy with the ruling, of course. We are still reviewing the opinion and we anticipate the Department of Corrections will follow Judge Wolf’s order and promptly arrange for Michelle Kosilek to receive her treatment," Kosilek’s attorney Joseph Sulman said Tuesday.
Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf ruled that sex reassignment surgery is the "only adequate treatment" for Kosilek, and "that there is no less intrusive means to correct the prolonged violation of Kosilek’s Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care."
"This is the first decision in which the court has ordered a prison to provide sex reassignment surgery as the necessary medical treatment for a transsexual inmate," said Ben Klein, senior attorney with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation in Boston.
Yet another example of our world going down the shitter. Fuckers in prison should not have any rights other then basic care.
You got seniors that worked their whole lives for this country and tonight they have to decide to buy some medicine or eat.
He can cut his nuts off and get breast implants, change his name to Michelle, but he’s still a man.
How sad that the previous commenters really have no idea what goes on in the heads of people who are convinced that they were born with the wrong sexual organs. For them, being a member of the opposite sex is “normal,” and operations to fix the biological mistake that is their bodies should be covered under health care.
I don’t have a problem with someone that is the “wrong” sex in their body and wishes to change their gender. What I don’t like is that this person murdered his wife and was sent to prison for the crime. He gave up his rights in our society once he murdered someone.
Its bad enough my tax money goes to keep inmates in jail. Paying for an expensive surgery (at least $20,000) for a convicted murderer is just rubbing salt in the wound.
I too have no issue with Robert cutting off his nuts to fulfill his dream as long as HE pays for it. The fact that American tax payers are paying for HIS operation after he was convicted of murdering people just makes it even worse.
I dont have a problem with a person wanting to change their sex to feel happy but it shouldnt be on the taxpayers to pay for it! Let him work it off by sucking off the other inmates, he will like it, they will like it, he will be providing a service and everyone would be happy!
Also he could cut his balls off and get breasts and he is still a MAN, STOP REFERRING TO HIM AS A SHE! Freakazoid!