Court victory for sex change trio (The Express)
Court victory for sex change trioBY JOHN KELLY THREE transsexuals yesterday won a high court victory over a health authority’s refusal to fund sex-change surgery. In a judgement which could open the floodgates to hundreds of other NHS claims, Mr Justice Hidden that a health authority was wrong to refuse the three men gender reassignment surgery. North-West Lancashire Health Authority, covering Preston and Blackpool in Lancashire, had said it would not pay for their operations, costing £7,000-£9,000 each. Although medical specialists say the surgery is vital to to complete their male-to-female transformation, it claimed it was entitled to take scarce resources into account. An appeal was immediately launched against the decision, described as “one of considerable importance to health authorities throughout the country.” The judge said the men suffered from a “recognised illness” and accepted they suffered continued distress and humiliation due to the refusal which was “unlawful and irrational”. He said they were entitled to “care for an illness”. Solicitor Stephen Lodge, acting for the three, identified as Miss A, 21, Miss D and Miss G, both 50, said: “This was an important test case”. “Other health authorities will now have to assess whether their policies for the treatment of transsexuals are lawful. We hope it will be easier for transsexuals to obtain the treatment they so clearly need.” Miss A, who was in court, said: “It is the end of two years of hard work fighting this legal battle. It has cost at least £47,000, enough to pay for several operations. The court heard some health authorities do fund sex-change operations while others refuse on the grounds it is more like cosmetic surgery and a wate of resources. Copyright © 1998, Express Newspapers |
