Medical Student and Professors Examine the Financial and Psychological Costs of

[Shana A]

Medical Student and Professors Examine the Financial and Psychological Costs of Self-Castration in a Transsexual Woman
Released: 2/28/2012 2:00 PM EST
Source: George Washington University

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/586259/

Newswise — WASHINGTON (February 10, 2012)— Michael S. Irwig, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine, Anton Trinidad, M.D., PhD., associate professor of Psychiatry, and Matthew St. Peter, a fourth year medical student at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, co-authored an article in the Journal of Sexual Medicine entitled, "Self-Castration by a Transsexual Woman: Financial and Psychological Costs: A Case Report." Dr. Irwig and his co-authors discuss the case of a transsexual woman who presented to the emergency room after undertaking self-castration. The full article can be viewed here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02621.x/abstract

The researchers concluded that the health care costs associated with treating a patient after self-castration were almost four times greater than having an elective outpatient surgical castration and that further research in this area of medicine needs to be conducted.

[LivingInGrey]

ok first of all.... self castration... OUCH...

underwent a bilateral inguinal exploration, ligation and removal of bilateral spermatic cords, and complicated scrotal exploration, debridement, and closure. She was admitted to the psychiatric service for a hospital stay of three days. The total bill was US $14,923, which would compare with US $4,000 for an elective outpatient orchiectomy in the patient's geographical area.

Well yeah, three day stay in the psych ward would cost about 8k I guess. But I don't see how they can say that just to do a "fix up" would cost 4K =/

Unless the Hospital is price gouging because it was a DIY gone bad. My mechanic will do that from time to time... If he has to fix something I mess up he'll charge me extra for it =/

[pebbles]

A hospital administrator would consider that an acceptable cost. Unless more than 25% of transsexuals engaged in such a practice.

[Jamie D]

The article cites $15,000 for the emergency room and subsequent psych and medical confinement, versus $4,000 for "elective outpatient" orchiectomy.

The problem is, "elective" orchiectomy isn't really available without jumping through some major hoops.  It's not like getting a facelift.

[LivingInGrey]

The "elective" part of that is the only thing I can see that would make people pull out the kitchen knives (ugh just thinking about that....)

Because it's "elective" it's not something most insurance comapnies would be willing to dish out for.