Transsexual in court appeal for breast enlargement
A transsexual refused breast enlargement surgery on the NHS is to take her case to the High Court, at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds to the hospital's budget.
Published: 9:33AM BST 08 Oct 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6271476/Transsexual-in-court-appeal-for-breast-enlargement.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6271476/Transsexual-in-court-appeal-for-breast-enlargement.html)
The legally aided gender dysphoria sufferer, who has been living as a woman for over 10 years, says breast augmentation is essential to her female identity and emotional well-being and the refusal to give her the op amounts to sex discrimination.
Her unique test case against the West Berkire Primary Care Trust (PCT), in which the the Equality and Human Rights Commission will also be playing a part, is now set for hearing at the High Court on October 20.
also http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218981/Transsexual-turned-breast-enlargement-claims-sex-discrimination-case-cost-taxpayer-thousands.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218981/Transsexual-turned-breast-enlargement-claims-sex-discrimination-case-cost-taxpayer-thousands.html)
Quote from: Telegraph articleHowever, Miss Harrison responded: "The PCT has discriminated against C as a transsexual person by treating her as in the same position as a natal female or a person who does not suffer from gender identity disorder.
"Breast augmentation is not cosmetic surgery, it is a treatment for gender dysphoria. This is a treatment for a recognised medical condition.
I'm surprised that PCT fails to recognize the difference between breast augmentation for a transsexual and for a natal female. On the other hand, is this case making a contention for a third sex category, i.e. male/female/transgender?
Is making a claim under the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act the way to go? What do readers familiar with the UK think?