BOSTON, Mass.—Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that gender reassignment surgery is medically necessary for an inmate housed at MCI-Norfolk. This decision affirms the October 2012 decision of District Court Judge Mark Wolf. MassEquality, which joined an amicus brief in the case, issued the following statement in response:
“This case is about nothing less and nothing other than the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which provides inmates a right to medically necessary treatment,” said MassEquality executive director, Kara Coredini. “This constitutional guarantee applies to all inmates – including transgender inmates. Three doctors hired by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections concluded that sex reassignment surgery was medically necessary for this particular inmate, and MassEquality is encouraged that she will finally be afforded the course of treatment that she needs.”
MassEquality is the leading statewide grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive from cradle to grave without discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. MassEquality does this by partnering across issues, identities and communities to build a broad, inclusive and politically powerful movement that changes hearts and minds and achieves policy and electoral victories. For more information, visit www.massequality.org.
[From a News Release]
