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- Jan 27, 2013
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For what it's worth, the Supreme Court in Canada has ruled that inmates in federal or provincial prisons have a right to receive all essential healthcare services necessary. The key terms here are "essential" and "necessary".
From what little I know of the subject, it could be argued that the surgery is essential and necessary for the full and healthy life of such individuals. It could also be argued that a man who has lived 51 years of his life as a male does not require this surgery to live even if the surgery would improve his/her life going forward.
There are many law abiding citizens living with any number of diseases, disfigurations, and other complications to a full and enjoyable life who are unable to afford surgeries and treatments that would make their lives better. Seems odd, in a way, that someone who breaks the rules of society, murders someone, would receive better treatment than an upstanding, contributing citizen. But then, inmates often receive better healthcare in general than many in the general public.
Taxpayers would pay either way as Medi-Cal has been covering the cost for low income folks for quite a while, so taxpayer wise there is no actual difference,... well, as Diana pointed out above, it may actually cost less through the prison system than through doctors connected with private insurance or Medi-Cal
I'm afraid the concept of a prison doc performing that kinda surgery is, frankly scary.
That is a whole different issue, and I seriously doubt the "prison doc" would do it.
You wouldn't want her pimped, I take it, to claw the money back?
Judge orders California to pay for inmate's sex change
So he's getting a free surgery, that, had he not been in prison, he'd have to pay for himself?
I don't see how this makes any sense.
"Medi-Cal, California's health care program for low-income residents, has covered the procedure for years."
It makes sense if he's been living as a woman for almost 30 years, has been taking hormones to develop breasts and female contours, and is being housed in an all-male prison. You can imagine the problems. As a physical female, she can be transferred to a woman's prison, where she will supposedly fit in more comfortably. I'm a Californian and I don't have a problem with this tax-supported surgery. Transgenders have enough problems just being who they are. They deserve a bit of empathy and whatever comfort the surgery can provide.
Life isn't fair. :shrug: Certainly, transgenders are more aware of this than most.
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