State must allow sex-change surgery for convicted murderer, Massachusetts judge rules

September 05, 2012

A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the state government must pay for the sex-change surgery requested by a prison inmate: a convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Judge Mark Wolf ruled that Michelle Kosilek, who was convicted in 1993 for killing his wife, requires the treatment because prison doctors have certified that he suffers from "gender identity disorder." The arguments against taxpayer-financed sex-change survey are based on unscientific opinions, the judge ruled.

 

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Further information:

• Federal judge rules state must provide sex reassignment surgery for Michelle Kosilek, who was convicted as a man of murdering his wife (Boston Herald)