People tend to break the law in sick and twisted ways. They streak during sporting events, burn down houses or pose as doctors and perform surgery.
Catherine Watson, a transgendered woman from Pennsylvania, was a victim of one of these impersonators. For all the people who are thinking "trans-what?," a transgendered person is one who wishes to be considered a member of the opposite sex. Some, like Watson, fulfill their wishes through surgery.
Watson sought Doug Lenhart, whom she found on the Internet, to perform the castration surgery. Lenhart claimed that he was a doctor who had performed 23 castration surgeries but was not licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, the Associated Press stated.
Alarms should be going off right now if someone is looking for a health-care provider. Why one would use the Internet to find a surgeon is beyond all logic, but not everyone has the finances to see a doctor for this type of procedure.
Watson wanted a service, but the risk of losing her life should have superseded the need to have the surgery. It is unfortunate she sought the help of a person who was not equipped to perform the procedure.
This is a human life. This isn't eBay. You cannot just demand a refund and your genitals will magically reattach.
Watson chose Lenhart to perform the surgery and agreed to pay him $800. She said she was awake during the procedure and in "horrible pain."
At some point Watson should have been thinking, "Maybe this guy really doesn't know what he is doing."
The sad part is, Watson wanted a medical procedure at an affordable price, and it was not available to her. People seeking surgery like appendectomies or mastectomies have insurance to help them pay the bills.
Maybe if more insurance companies covered castration surgery, Watson could have sought a licensed medical professional.
Lenhart's attorney, James Waymard, said Lenhart had some experience in this area and said he felt Lenhart was qualified to perform the procedure, the Associated Press reported.
A politically heated question arises from this situation: Should insurance companies provide coverage for surgeries like castration?
If they did, Watson might not have risked her life to become what she felt comfortable being: a woman.
The same mindset is applied to abortions. Before they were available in clinics, many abortions were not performed with sterilized instruments or by licensed medical professionals.
Opponents of insured castration, however, could argue that they do not want to pay high insurance premiums so others can have surgery.
For those who believe that being transgendered is a choice, the surgery could be seen as cosmetic surgery. Insurance companies tend not to cover cosmetic surgery unless it is for medical purposes like reconstructing damaged tissue or reducing breast size to alleviate back pain.
People like Watson, however, should have options. Both medical and insurance providers should have some alternatives for procedures like castration. More people will seek licensed medical professionals for procedures, and those who are unlicensed will be denied as many opportunities to practice as possible.
Write to Lauren at lmphillips@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
