A 22-year-old woman recently won a $2 million lawsuit against a doctor in New York, claiming medical malpractice after undergoing a double mastectomy at the age of 16. The medical team had indicated that there was a possibility she might be a boy, even though that was biologically impossible. This case marks the first successful lawsuit against a medical professional involved in performing sex reassignment surgeries on minors.
This young woman is not alone in her battle. At 21, I’m also taking action against the medical system that initiated my gender reassignment treatment starting at 13. We were all in vulnerable positions, misled by various medical professionals. The impact on our bodies and minds is irreversible, and it’s frustrating to think that so many of us were failed by those we trusted.
A New York woman shared a painful story about being coerced into sex reassignment surgery as a teenager. Despite her mother’s objections, she felt pressured to go through with it because of alarming claims made by doctors that her child could be suicidal without the surgery. How do parents argue against such dire predictions?
Sadly, the idea that such procedures can “cure” someone is misguided. The woman who experienced this firsthand is now transitioning back and will have to cope with the repercussions of these medical decisions for life. Following her settlement, she received $1.6 million for her suffering and an additional $400,000 for anticipated medical costs, even though she might not require ongoing care.
My own path mirrors hers closely. During my early teens, I grappled with confusion around my gender, exacerbated by social media and gaming. Instead of guiding me toward self-acceptance as a girl, therapists and doctors led me to believe that I was a boy.
At 13, I started on puberty blockers, halting my natural development. Soon after, I began taking hormones that altered both my body and brain, culminating in a mastectomy at 16. Even years later, the impact is constant; I still deal with the aftermath.
I was assured that my body could return to normal, but I quickly learned that those promises were false. The situation remains irrevocably altered, and like many young women in my position, I find myself grappling with a reality that feels like a constant reminder of a major life mistake.
Doctors should certainly recognize the complexities of working with children whose identities and bodies are still forming. The logical approach is to be patient, allowing natural development while providing solid mental health support that truly addresses a child’s needs.
Instead, there’s a tendency among medical professionals to rush kids toward irreversible gender reassignment. Research from Do No Harm suggests that nearly 14,000 minors have undergone such procedures in recent years, but the real figure could be much higher. Actions taken in these cases clearly fall under medical malpractice, and those responsible need to take accountability for the lives they have affected.
Moreover, all medical professionals involved in gender reassignment should reconsider their practices. Many of us are seeking justice for the harms we’ve endured. This recent verdict in New York serves as a starting point. We won’t rest until the medical community addresses these issues and ceases gender reassignment for minors altogether.
