State correction boss says six out-of-state doctors willing to perform sex reassignment surgery on murderer Michelle Kosilek
02/05/2013 4:45 PM
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/02/05/state-correction-boss-says-six-doctors-willing-perform-sex-reassignment-surgery-michelle-kosilek/J8xL9BJPnTrYkSiObvO4qM/story.htmlThe state has identified six surgeons willing to perform sex reassignment surgery on convicted killer Michelle L. Kosilek, but none of the doctors currently perform operations in Massachusetts, according to an affidavit filed by Correction Commissioner Luis S. Spencer.
In fact, according to Spencer's filing in US District Court in Boston, which was made public Tuesday, there are no doctors in Massachusetts or New York who regularly perform the complex surgery, forcing the state to search the nation for doctors both qualified for the task and willing to perform it on a killer serving a life sentence.
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A Department of Correction spokeswoman, citing the DOC policy of not commenting on pending litigation, declined to comment on the filing. Five of the six doctors signaled they would be willing to operate on Kosilek in the Bay State if given approval by the medical authorities, the affidavit said.
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State seeks out sex-change doctors
National search to aid murderer
February 6, 2013
Gary J. Remal / Boston Herald
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/02/state_seeks_out_sex_change_doctorsThere are no surgeons available in the Bay State who can give a convicted wife-killer the sex-change operation he wants taxpayers to bankroll — but at least five have been found who can be flown in, the state's prison chief told a federal judge.
State corrections chief Luis S. Spencer also denied "foot-dragging" on the judge's order to find someone to help inmate Michelle Kosilek go from a man to a woman.
"The department has made substantial progress in taking the steps reasonably necessary to provide Kosilek with sex reassignment surgery promptly" if the state's appeal is denied, Spencer wrote to U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf.
After finding no qualified surgeons in Massachusetts or New York, Spencer described fanning out a team of corrections officials around the country looking to make contact with specialists qualified in sex-change surgery.
