What Do You Think of Taxpayer-Funded Sex Changes for Inmates?
A federal judge's ruling Tuesday on a Massachusetts case is believed to be the first of its kind.
A convicted murderer will receive a state-funded sex-reassignment surgery because a federal judge has ruled it is the only way to treat her "serious medical need."
Massachusetts state prison officials must provide the surgery to Michelle Kosilek, who was convicted as Robert Kosilek for killing his wife in 1990. Kosilek was born a male but has received hormone treatments and lives in an all-male prison.
Kosilek first sued the Massachusetts Department of Correction 12 years ago. Wolf ruled two years later that Kosilek was entitled to treatment for gender-identity disorder, but did not order surgery. The ruling yesterday stems from Kosilek suing again in 2005.
Sex change operations can cost up to $20,000. Many insurance companies reject the surgery as elective.
In his decision, Wolf stated that the 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,’’ the Globe reported.
Prison officials have argued that allowing Kosilek to have the surgery would make her a target for sexual assaults by other inmates.
What do you think of the decision?
[Editor's note: This item is posted on all eight Boston Patch sites.]
Ajax
6:03 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
A cheaper alternative would be generic anti-psychotics. Just give the man a haldol depot shot every month.
Bob from JP
10:41 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
This is an abject failure of our justice system. You have children out there who don't have access to basic health services, and we're going to spend $25k to give murderer a sex change operation?
Perhaps if he was so keen on getting this done he could have stayed our of prison and saved up for it? What is going to stop other people looking to get the procedure done from using prison as a way to get it for free going forward?
Absolutely ridiculous. The judge should be removed from his post.
Rick
1:16 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
This is a sick justice system we have and. reflects the direction of this society
rageman
5:31 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
He is in jail. He doesn't need a sex change. He will get all the sex he needs for free
No Surgery for Muderer
9:11 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
It is disgusting that a case like this even reaches the courts for decision. Judge Wolf should be deridded and his courtroom picketed. The prisoner is a MURDERER and if prisoners are stripped of other rights, like voting, access to telephones, publications, visitors, etc., he/she should be denied what he seems to think is his right to $ex-change $urgery. While gender reassignment $urgery is not exactly elective in the minds of those seeking it, it is not a life preserving $urgery that the tax payer$ of the Commonwealth should absorb. He is not being denied appropriate/standard medical care--he is seeking a very expensive, with follow-up care & life long medication (hormone$), $urgery to remedy a psychological desire/need to become a woman. I am a raging liberal and LGBT advocate, but this is ridiculous! Do the crime, pay the time. That should be time with no frills, no rights other than fair treatment, 3 square meals, access to some education for his life sentence. He's a murderer, he chose to committ a crime, killing his wife. Why should the state agree that he is entitled to gender re-a$$ignment? And if he does recieve this state funded, tax payer provided $urgery will he then be placed in a woman's prison. I am sure the girls up at MCI Framingham will be thrilled to have a murderer of women among them. You think the guys are rough, the broads in the brig will crucify him/her!!!!
Bob Samson
9:20 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Nothing at all to be a democrat, absolutely no long term implications over a wide array of society, NAW
Plenty O'Toole
9:58 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I am a Democrat and I appro...er, hey, is that a Gerbil?
Chris
9:06 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
So a Democratic-controlled DOC opposes paying for this operation and a judge appointed by a Republican president and confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate says "you have to." But you decide 1) you don't like it and 2) you're going to diss the Democratic political appointees who opposed it. I'm a Democrat and I approve this take down of your lame comment.
melinda tillie
4:39 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Shouldnt our taxes go for revenue to run the state etc.?
Rich P
8:59 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
It's (expletive) like this that gave rise to the tea bag party.
PattyK
9:15 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
I think this judges decision is a total disgrace and misuse of taxpayers funds and he should be brought up on charges...
Bob Samson
4:29 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
How about Brain Transplants for Politicians.