A 36-year old Oregon woman who had a double mastectomy six years ago in response to adopting a non-binary identity and then detransitioned 18 months later sued the two therapists who recommended the procedure after telemedicine appointments of less than one hour each. She accused them of malpractice for failing to take into account her long mental health history of depression, suicidal ideation, ADHD, and trauma unrelated to gender identity, and said the procedure left her with serious physical health complications and even greater psychological distress. She sued for $3.5 million, but the suit was settled days before trial for an undisclosed amount. Unlike the recent case of Fox Varian, who received this treatment as a minor, this represents the first successful malpractice claim from an adult patient. While gender transition surgery may be helpful for some patients, cases like this suggest it is not a panacea for all and should only be undertaken after more careful deliberation than is often the case in the recent history of US medicine. Adverse legal settlements and verdicts could eventually result in transgender medicine becoming less available for those who truly need it due to soaring rates for malpractice insurance.
Detransitioner Wins Settlement from Therapists
