Originally posted by FeceMan
This is...a vast quantity of fecal matter slung at John Q. There is no reason why tax dollars should ever go to fund something like this. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a civil rights issue. At all.What do you all think of this?
I had to pay for my own chemo...
weigh them up... chemo? sex change? chemo? sex change? which is worth more?
simple decision...
I can see why public-funding of hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery may be necessary in some instances.
For example, denying a transgendered prisoner hormone therapy because it is not medically necessary can be construed as cruel and unusual punishment.
In Canada, a transgendered man or woman cannot change his or her sex on any legal documents without a certificate of completion of sex reassignment surgery from the practicing doctor. This forces transgendered men and women to decide between being honest about his or her birth sex and facing discrimination, or being dishonest and facing the possibility of being punished for breaking the law.
Originally posted by Adam_PoE
For example, denying a transgendered prisoner hormone therapy because it is not medically necessary can be construed as cruel and unusual punishment.
Can't agree with you here babe. I can't say that I agree with the state, and more appropriatly: the people, footing the bill for gender reassignment surgery. If I was born a man that thought I should be a woman, I wouldn't expect my insurance to cover it. Its a huge leap from dental coverage to gender reassignment surgery. It isn't the publics responsability that you were born a man, but feel...or became...a woman.
Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
Can't agree with you here babe. I can't say that I agree with the state, and more appropriatly: the people, footing the bill for gender reassignment surgery. If I was born a man that thought I should be a woman, I wouldn't expect my insurance to cover it. Its a huge leap from dental coverage to gender reassignment surgery. It isn't the publics responsability that you were born a man, but feel...or became...a woman.
The issue of whether a transsexual person is entitled to hormone therapy while in prison has been litigated extensively, based on the established constitutional principle that it is a violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment for prison officials to exhibit "deliberate indifference" to a prisoner's "serious medical needs."
The policy of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons is to provide hormones at the level that was maintained prior to incarceration. Specifically, the policy provides:
It is the policy of the Bureau of Prisons to maintain the transsexual inmate at the level of change existing upon admission to the Bureau. Should [responsible medical staff] determine that either progressive or regressive treatment changes are indicated, these changes must be approved by the [Bureau of Prisons] Medical Director prior to implementation. The use of hormones to maintain secondary sexual characteristics may be continued at approximately the same levels as prior to incarceration (with appropriate documentation from community physicians/hospitals) and with the Medical Director's approval.
Originally posted by BackFire
"...to exhibit "deliberate indifference" to a prisoner's "serious medical needs.""Problem there is that it's not a serious medical need, it's a novelty, at best.
Imagine a man with an uncomfortable dermatological condition such as exema takes medication to supress it. Once in prison, it is decided that because this condition is considered cosmetic, he will no longer be administered medication to supress it. Forcing him to live the duration of his prison term without this medication would be considered cruel and unusual punishment.
Originally posted by Adam_PoE
Imagine a man with an uncomfortable dermatological condition such as exema takes medication to supress it. Once in prison, it is decided that because this condition is considered cosmetic, he will no longer be administered medication to supress it. Forcing him to live the duration of his prison term without this medication would be considered cruel and unusual punishment.
I'd have to agree in this case.