Governor Deval Patrick, facing criticism from his allies in the gay-rights movement, today defended his administration’s decision to appeal court-ordered sex-change surgery for a convicted murderer.
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Governor Deval Patrick, facing criticism from his allies in the gay-rights movement, today defended his administration’s decision to appeal court-ordered sex-change surgery for a convicted murderer.
Comments
Regarding prisoner safety: Post-surgery, if it happens, wouldn't Kosilek be transferred to Framingham?
I was disappointed that the state is appealing. I don't think there's much of a chance of winning, and the appeal exposes the state to large court and legal fees for both sides.
It's best to know when to throw in the towel. I think this was one of those times.
You're probably right, although it sets a bad precedent, so I can understand the motivation to appeal. Kosilek was already receiving hormonal therapy and counseling, and won the gamble by insisting it had to be surgery. While gender confusion, or whatever they call it, is in all likelihood a legitimate pathology, there is no proof that surgery is anything more than a dangerous and expensive placebo (you cannot, for example, perform the surgery and withold hormonal therapy and counseling just to see if surgery is determinative for a cure; it would be unethical). Since the matter was decided in Federal Court, appealing the ruling will bring to the forefront a definition of what non-emergency medical treatment is necessary and what is not. One has to worry, for example, if state or federal angencies might find themselves forced to choose spending tax dollars to satisfy other non-essential demands because the threat of the cost of winning in court is too great?
Let him/her have the surgery as long as we (the taxpayer) do not have to spend one cent for it.
As far as I understand, he/she does not have a life threatening condition so why must the state pay for it?