A tough call

Robert Kosilek murdered his wife in 1990.  He is now known as Michelle Kosilek and is a resident of the Massachusetts state prison, which is an all-male institution. In 2002  Kosilek convinced Judge Mark Wolf that he suffered from gender-identity disorder.  At that time the judge granted him the use of a number of techniques such as female hormone therapy, laser hair therapy and psychotherapy to treat his disorder.  All of these techniques were paid for by the state. 

Kosilek is determined and wants a sex-change operation.  He went before Judge Wolf again and this time the judge granted Kosilek's wish as he found that the operation was a "medical need".   "Medical" was Wolf's term for Kosilek's attempts to castrate herself and commit suicide.Wolf ruled that “there is no less intrusive means to correct the prolonged violation of Kosilek’s Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care.”   Although there have been similar cases in other states, this is the first time that a judge has allowed this operation.

It's hard to accept Wolf's decision as there are people who want to be a different sex but can't afford the operation, which, by the way, insurance companies consider elective.  Here we have taxpayers paying to meet the "medical need" of a convicted murderer.  The state has paid all medical bills for Kosilek for almost twenty years and will continue to pay them until he dies, which may not occur for twenty years or more. But, then, listen to Kosilek: “Everybody has the right to have their health care needs met, whether they are in prison or out on the streets. People in the prisons who have bad hearts, hips or knees have surgery to repair those things. My medical needs are no less important or more important than the person in the cell next to me.”