Published : Sept. 5, 2012 - 14:58
(123rf)
NORFOLK (UPI) -- A federal judge in Massachusetts Tuesday ruled an inmate serving a life sentence for murder must be provided sex-reassignment surgery.
Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf ruled the surgery is the “only adequate treatment” for Michelle Kosilek‘s gender identity disorder, CNN reported.
Kosilek, previously known as Robert, was convicted of his wife’s 1990 murder and has attempted to castrate and kill herself in the all-male Norfolk, Mass., prison, court records show.
“We are very happy with the ruling, of course. We are still reviewing the opinion and we anticipate the Department of Corrections will follow Judge Wolf‘s order and promptly arrange for Michelle Kosilek to receive her treatment,” Kosilek’s attorney Joseph Sulman said Tuesday.
“There is no less intrusive means to correct the prolonged violation of Kosilek‘s Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care,” Wolf’s ruling states.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says operations, therapy, hormone injections and electrolysis associated with sex reassignment surgery can cost from $30,000 to $80,000.
U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., Tuesday called the decision “an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars.”
“I look forward to common sense prevailing and the ruling being overturned,” Brown said in a statement.
Wolf left it up to the Department of Correction to determine where Kosilek will be imprisoned after the surgery, CNN said.
화학적 거세도 약해! ‘강제 성전환’ 명령
메사추세츠의 한 연방법원 판사가 살인죄로 무기징역을 선고받은 죄수에게 성전환 수술을 받으라고 명령했다.
미국 언론 보도에 따르면 마크 울프 판사는 죄수 미셸 코실렉의 성정체성 장애를 해결할 유일하고도 가장 적절한 방법은 성전환 수술이라고 말했다.
코실렉은 1990년에 아내를 살해한 죄로 유죄를 선고받고 남자만 있는 노포크 감옥에서 스스로 거세해 자살하려고 시도한 적이 있다.
코실렉의 변호사인 조세프 설먼은 판결에 만족하고 따를 것이라고 말했다.
성전환 수술과 그에 따른 심리치료, 호르몬 주사, 전기분해 요법에 드는 비용은 다 합쳐서 3만에서 8만달러 정도 되는 것으로 알려져있다.
스캇 브라운 상원의원은 판결에 대해 분노하며 혈세를 낭비하는 것이라고 강하게 비판했다.
(코리아헤럴드)