Transgendered Patient Refused Breast Enhancement Surgery, 2008-01-09
A hospital run by the Daughters of Charity Health System, a Catholic entity, faces a lawsuit for refusing to perform a breast augmentation procedure on a transgendered individual.
The San Jose Mercury News has reported on the case of San Francisco resident Charlene Hastings, 57, who was allegedly told by a surgical coordinator at Seton Medical Center that the surgery was against "God's will.""I couldn't believe it," Hastings, a former Catholic, told the Mercury News. "It's a blatant case of discrimination." Hastings filed the suit December 21st in a San Francisco Court.
Having already undergone major surgery to transition to the female form, Hastings selected a plastic surgeon, Dr. Leonard Gray, with privileges at Seton to perform the breast procedure only to be informed that the surgery was no longer allowed by the hospital for transgendered patients.
The Daughters of Charity Health System purchased the hospital from Catholic Healthcare West in 2002 and put an end to the breast augmentation procedures in 2006 for transgendered patients.The vice president of communications for Daughters of Charity, Elizabeth Nickels, speaking to the newspaper via a prepared statement, said hospital policy had been followed regarding the matter.
"Seton Medical Center provides medically necessary services to individuals," said Nickels. "However, the hospital does not perform surgical procedures contrary to Catholic teaching; for example, abortion, direct euthanasia, transgender surgery or any of its related components."
