Mass. transgender inmate seeking electrolysis
BOSTON (AP) — A transgender inmate who won a court order for taxpayer-funded sex-change surgery has no medical need for further electrolysis treatments, a prisons department psychiatrist testified Monday.
Dr. Robert Diener testified during a hearing in U.S. District Court on Michelle Kosilek's request to have additional hair-removal treatments. Diener, chief psychiatrist for the state Department of Correction, said he evaluated Kosilek in 2010 and again last month and concluded that Kosilek's anxiety level hasn't changed, even though she hasn't had electrolysis treatments since 2008.
"I continue to believe that it's not medically necessary for this patient," said Diener, chief psychiatrist at MHM Services, Inc., a company subcontracted by the state Department of Correction to provide mental health services.
Under questioning by Kosilek's lawyer, Diener acknowledged that he had not published any articles or conducted any research on gender-identity disorder, a diagnosis given to Kosilek. Diener also said he was told that the reason prison officials stopped giving Kosilek electrolysis after seven treatments is because it was too expensive.
Kosilek's lawyer, Frances Cohen, said prison officials' refusal to allow Kosilek to have additional treatments is "simply another incident of deliberate indifference" to Kosilek's medical needs.
The department has said it discontinued the treatments after finding she had already received significant hair removal and saying her remaining hair could be removed by shaving or depilatories.
Judge Mark Wolf didn't immediately rule on the request.
In September, Wolf ordered the state to provide sex-reassignment surgery, saying it is the only way to treat Kosilek's "serious medical need."
Kosilek was born male but has received hormone treatments and now lives as a woman in an all-male prison. Kosilek was named Robert when convicted in the 1990 murder of wife Cheryl Kosilek.
In his ruling, Wolf noted that Kosilek's gender-identity disorder has caused Kosilek so much anguish that she has twice tried to commit suicide. Wolf said Kosilek "continues to suffer intense mental anguish" because she truly believes she is a woman trapped in a man's body.
"That anguish alone constitutes a serious medical need," Wolf wrote.
The Department of Correction has appealed Wolf's order.
The judge also heard arguments Monday on the department's request to put the order on hold while the appeal is pending.
Kosilek's lawyers also asked Wolf to revise his ruling to change his use of male pronouns to female pronouns when referring to Kosilek. Wolf said he would consider the request.
Dr. Robert Diener testified during a hearing in U.S. District Court on Michelle Kosilek's request to have additional hair-removal treatments. Diener, chief psychiatrist for the state Department of Correction, said he evaluated Kosilek in 2010 and again last month and concluded that Kosilek's anxiety level hasn't changed, even though she hasn't had electrolysis treatments since 2008.
"I continue to believe that it's not medically necessary for this patient," said Diener, chief psychiatrist at MHM Services, Inc., a company subcontracted by the state Department of Correction to provide mental health services.
Under questioning by Kosilek's lawyer, Diener acknowledged that he had not published any articles or conducted any research on gender-identity disorder, a diagnosis given to Kosilek. Diener also said he was told that the reason prison officials stopped giving Kosilek electrolysis after seven treatments is because it was too expensive.
Kosilek's lawyer, Frances Cohen, said prison officials' refusal to allow Kosilek to have additional treatments is "simply another incident of deliberate indifference" to Kosilek's medical needs.
The department has said it discontinued the treatments after finding she had already received significant hair removal and saying her remaining hair could be removed by shaving or depilatories.
Judge Mark Wolf didn't immediately rule on the request.
In September, Wolf ordered the state to provide sex-reassignment surgery, saying it is the only way to treat Kosilek's "serious medical need."
Kosilek was born male but has received hormone treatments and now lives as a woman in an all-male prison. Kosilek was named Robert when convicted in the 1990 murder of wife Cheryl Kosilek.
In his ruling, Wolf noted that Kosilek's gender-identity disorder has caused Kosilek so much anguish that she has twice tried to commit suicide. Wolf said Kosilek "continues to suffer intense mental anguish" because she truly believes she is a woman trapped in a man's body.
"That anguish alone constitutes a serious medical need," Wolf wrote.
The Department of Correction has appealed Wolf's order.
The judge also heard arguments Monday on the department's request to put the order on hold while the appeal is pending.
Kosilek's lawyers also asked Wolf to revise his ruling to change his use of male pronouns to female pronouns when referring to Kosilek. Wolf said he would consider the request.
If looks could kill...oh, wait
'Kosilek's lawyers also asked Wolf to revise his ruling to change his use of male pronouns to female pronouns when referring to Kosilek. Wolf said he would consider the request.'
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*facepalm*
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Dont know which is more fundamentally disturbing to me, the fact that taxpayers were required to pay for his/her 'gender reassignment' medical procedures, or the fact that there is still an attorney (or team of them) that is suckling the judicial welfare teet while judicating such pressing and essential legal issues.Â
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Again... I can find sympathy with individuals who have gender identity mental health issues (and, before the inevitable littany of 'homophobe' comments begin, his diagnosis is one of a 'disorder'. ). But, he/she is in prison. Any relevent medical treatments are decidedly NOT medically necessary. They are a decidedly elective procedure.
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I get the 8th ammendment protections afforded to prisoners. It just baffles me that such medical procedures (or, more accurately, withholding such procedures) could in any way be found to fall within those protections. Â
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A sidebar that I keep coming up with.... Do such inmates end up in the male or female population? Are we (taxpayers) now going to end up having to build, staff & maintain 'none of the above' gender prisons?
What a disgusting mockery of the legal system. Worse yet, what a slap in the face to the victim's family that this murderer is given so much consideration from the courts. This judge should be ashamed of himself. I believe in fair trials, decent treatment of prisoners, but we cannot forget to be a voice for the victims who cannot speak for themselves.Â
I just wonder what our "founding fathers" would think of what we've become now... Â they must be turning over in their graves...!
When this country was founded a 5 year prison sentence was pretty much a death sentence due to the conditions. It wasn't cruel and unusual punishment, but punishment.Â
To quote Arnold from the movie Predator - "You're one... *ugly* m****rf****r!"
I say, then let him commit suicide. Oh boo hoo. There's people that are going without the medical treatment they need to live because of no health care, but a murderer in prison can cry and get whatever he wants. Yeah, our country is going down.
I love this stuff. The liberals have crated a monster and now that monster is turning on them.
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Strong work Massachusetts.
This guy MURDERED his wife, and they're fussing about his "anxiety level"?!?!? Â Â Boy, some of the stuff going on these days in our "justice system" (and I use the term loosely) just leaves me speechless..! Â Â Â WTH has happened to this country..!?! Â Â
Sad, Really Sad day when the Tax payers need to give Killers any medical treatment that they want.We as a Nation are Doomed.
@cpt.iceman The sad part is ther are people in prison that have REAL medical issues that can't get help, but some murdering fag gets to get his junk chopped off and ongoing "treatment" at tax payer's expense? Or the money could go to help support victims or their families. I agree, we are doomed.
It was just shown that many have drank the kool-aid. I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Especially that we live on the left coast. Game on!
Nope.....electrocution
@Rob C 503 By low voltage. Make him/her fry over a 5-6 hour time.
This country is becoming a joke. Â When this weirdo can get his way there is no hope for us. Â We need to bring back the hanging judges from years ago. Â We'd have lots of space in our prisons, but be running low on acreage for graveyards. Â A great trade as far as I'm concerned.
Just another ugly shim
They misspelled electrocution.
They are convicted of murder. Be sad...be very sad.
Next inmates will be asking for nose jobs, tummy tucks, and chin lifts, because it is causing them mental anguish to look the ugly way they do. Geeze, where does this end.
If a gender change is on your agenda, then you should make it a point to stay out of prison. Same is true for any medical procedures. You want a nice set of veneers that sparkle when you smile. We want your rotten tooth pulled and you taken back to your cell.
Robert's beard and mustache must go if he's ever to  find that cuddling comfort he desires at beddybye time.
Hmmm . . . where to begin. Just WTF, Judge???