Boston.com
The Associated Press
Mass. inmate: Appeals ruling supports sex-change
By Denise Laovie
AP Legal Affairs Writer / August 17, 2011
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/08/17/mass_inmate_appeals_ruling_supports_sex_change/ (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/08/17/mass_inmate_appeals_ruling_supports_sex_change/)
BOSTON—A convicted murderer who is suing for a sex-change operation says a recent federal appeals court ruling bolsters her claim that Massachusetts prison officials are violating her constitutional rights by refusing to provide the surgery.
Kosilek's lawyers plan to make new arguments Thursday based on a ruling by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of another transgender inmate in Massachusetts.
In that case, the 1st Circuit agreed that the state Department of Correction had shown deliberate indifference to Sandy Battista's medical needs by repeatedly denying her request for female hormone treatments.
I have to agree that Kosilek should have access to treatment, but not on the taxpayers' dime. I would not want to see convicted criminals getting free access to SRS/GRS (for example) when it is still so difficult for most law-abiding citizens to get affordable health insurance coverage for the same condition. When citizens have reasonable access to insurance options for GID/GD treatment then I might be willing to see tax money go to providing a similar level of coverage for prisoners. Not before. After all, it is prison; prisoners are not supposed to have a higher quality of life than free citizens...that would just be an incentive for committing a crime and getting caught. They should have just the basics and plenty of time to repent of their crimes; hence the term "penitentiary" from the word "penitent" meaning apologetic or regretful.
And yes, I would stand by all of the above, even if I were the convict...much as it might hurt to suffer the effects of my principles.
As a non-American I have to agree with you.
That this individual has destroyed they earnings potential is their problem. Especially in this instance.