Medical Lawsuit: Stop Wrecking Babies' Genitals

[chaya]

A landmark legal case may finally put a stop to almost half a century of bizarre medical procedures in the United States, where children's genitals have been surgically altered to fit a standardized definition of the proper sizes for penises and clitorises

Comments

TW suicide

[nextdrinksonme]

I can't think of a level where this is not gross.

Seriously, why do we have a standard of 'normal' for genitals anyhow? And who's to say that the kid's bits won't grow or change as they do? What's wrong with a small penis or a large clit as long as it isn't causing the kid physical pain? Ugh. I can't even imagine the shame of knowing "the body you were born in was wrong so we decided to surgically change it to make it more normal" not even on top of the whole gender issue (seriously David Reimer (the boy who was raised as a girl mentioned at the end of the article) killed himself. That really should be enough to tell people that this is not a good idea to do to children).

Ugh.

Re: TW suicide

[the_physicist]

There aren't really any statistics on the number of intersex individuals who commit suicide because of stuff like this or other problems faced from being intersex. Simply because no one is monitoring the situation. There are anecdotal accounts though.

One of the arguments for these surgeries was/is that if we aren't surgically altered to fit one idea of how a body should be, then we'll commit suicide later in life. Again. No statistics though.

Doctors don't decide based on evidence or science how to treat us intersex people. Only based on their bigoted feelings.

An intersex woman near where I grew up had her ovaries and uterus removed without her consent by a doctor when she was in for another surgery. Because that doctor saw an M on her documents and when poking around inside her found a female reproductive system. And they saying having an X gender category on birth certificates and passports is not important. Of course it's not. >_> *rage*

Re: TW suicide

[nextdrinksonme]

Oh god that is absolutely horrifying. I hope she sued the shit out of that doctor for malpractice.

Re: TW suicide

[the_physicist]

She did take them to court! I tried to google an article on her case, but I can't find anything right now. I know there was one on the internet though, as an old friend of mine sent me a link to it via FB when she won the case.

Re: TW suicide

[nextdrinksonme]

Thank god for that. I'd hope the doctor lost his license, but I'm sure that'd be too much to ask. But I'm really glad she got justice, even though it won't change what happened to her.

Re: TW suicide

[the_physicist]

Yeah, it won't change what happened to her and this not being the US she didn't really get more than the legal costs back I dare say, and I don't think the doctor lost their license. But the main point is that because she came out and complained about all that was done to her, very recently a law was quietly passed banning non-consensual infant intersex surgeries for non-medical reasons. I think that there is still the issue that some of the surgeries carried out 'for medical reasons', are actually still eugenicist bullshit. But it's a good step forward. She should not have had to be the one to go through hell and put her face out there publicly (because of the M she had a lot of other stuff done to her body too, so she also IDs as a trans woman and has to face that same discrimination). Outing yourself to the country as MtF and intersex is very safe after all >_> . She's super brave. I love her.

Re: TW suicide

[nextdrinksonme]

because she came out and complained about all that was done to her, very recently a law was quietly passed banning intersex surgeries for non-medical reasons

That's spectacular. And yeah, I agree, she's very brave.

[kittenmommy]

But the main point is that because she came out and complained about all that was done to her, very recently a law was quietly passed banning non-consensual infant intersex surgeries for non-medical reasons.

I am so glad to hear this.

Sorry for spamming this entire comment thread.

[the_physicist]

it's a big thing, because hardly anywhere in the world bans intersex surgeries.

[kittenmommy]

I know, and it's sickening.

Re: TW suicide

[chaya]

had her ovaries and uterus removed without her consent

had her ovaries and uterus removed without her consent

had her ovaries and uterus removed without her consent

Re: TW suicide

[the_physicist]

They do that all the time to intersex babies, that's what the whole article is about. But yeah, it doesn't matter what age you are, there are plenty of eugenicist doctors in the world who don't care if you're an infant with no voice or an adult who might actually complain when they find out what you did.

It happens all the time that intersex people at all stages in life are sterilised with 'false' consent too. And by that I mean doctors lying to them and misleading them or telling them that they have no choice 'medically', that the surgery has to be done. Because they are uneducated asshats. This happens all the time, right now.

Re: TW suicide

[chaya]

I was totally aware of the surgeries done to the external bits of babies - I had no idea that it was commonplace for adult patients to be paid the same disregard.

Re: TW suicide

[the_physicist]

i am sure there are good doctors out there. i have had bad experiences.

Re: TW suicide

[the_physicist]

i found an english language article: http://worldblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/30/10925380-hermaphrodites-push-for-human-rights-in-germany

Re: TW suicide

[hermionemalfoy]

Ugh, I know! Disturbingly, in many (MANY!!) countries, sterilization after sex reassignment (usually affecting transgendered people, not sure how it differs for intersex) is the law. WHAT IN THE FUCK. At least Sweden changed its law. You know, a few months ago.