MetaChat - God made you a man.

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08 January 2008

God made you a man. Controversial news article of the day (ok, of Saturday). Catholic hospital refuses to allow breast augmentation surgery on transgender woman. →[More:]Anyone know what the rules are?

Also, how come it's okay to do any other plastic surgery if you're afraid of thwarting God's will? What about cleft palates? God made them, right? Okay, so that's just fixing things so your machine runs right, God-issued or not. This, by some lights, though not mine, is cosmetic. But this hospital DOES cosmetic! So this hospital's version of God minds big breasts when added to guys but not when added to women? I think that's what they're going off of. However, it's definitely NOT in the Godly Policies and Procedures Manual- I've read it.

post by: small_ruminant at: 16:57 | 15 comments

You make sense, they do not. (Can't read the article though, need login).

posted by dabitch 08 January | 16:59

Why would you approach a catholic hospital for such a procedure in the first place, other than to stir up controversy?

posted by jjb 08 January | 17:07

bugmenot has usernames and passwords for an end run around the registration obstacle.

posted by desjardins 08 January | 17:13

jjb, from the article:

Hastings, 57, had already had the major surgery she needed to become a woman. She had chosen a San Francisco plastic surgeon with privileges at Seton to perform the breast augmentation in October 2006. But the surgeon, Dr. Leonard Gray, told her that Seton no longer allowed him to operate on transgender patients, Hastings said.

When Hastings called Seton to learn more, a surgical coordinator said the hospital would not allow its facilities to be used for transgender surgery, according to the lawsuit, "She was saying, 'It's not God's will,' " Hastings said.

She was attempting to use her original surgeon, who was affiliated with a Catholic hospital.

posted by muddgirl 08 January | 17:14

jjb - she approached her doctor, who had operating privileges at the hospital.

posted by desjardins 08 January | 17:15

Thanks for clearing that up, seems pretty stupid.

Would this hospital deny someone access to emergency medicine on the same grounds?

posted by jjb 08 January | 17:28

"Sorry, we can't remove that nail. God made you klutzy."

posted by occhiblu 08 January | 18:00

I don't think there is such a thing as emergency breast enlargement, but I could be wrong.

posted by desjardins 08 January | 18:28

I had the last two of my babies at a Catholic hospital; my doctor trained other docs (residents?) in obstetrics in that hospital. Because he was employed by them as a teacher he was not permitted to prescribe birth control pills but he would refer patients to colleagues that could.

So this really doesn't surprise me.

posted by bunnyfire 08 January | 19:19

desjardins: If I were falling chest-first from a tall building, I'd sure as hell want some ultra-exagerated emergency breast enlargement.

posted by qvantamon 08 January | 19:26

I think they're being inconsistent if they do breast enlargements for biological women but not transgendered women. I'm having a hard time believing that big boobs fall under "God's will".

However, I do think that the hospital, being a religious institution, does have the right to deny non-emergency procedures as they see fit, including abortions and birth control. It's not as if Hastings can't get the procedure done elsewhere, and it's not as if you can't buy condoms at Walgreens.

posted by desjardins 08 January | 19:33

God made you a man.

Really? Can he make me one too? I could send him to work and stay home all day...

posted by jonmc 08 January | 23:49

≡ Click to see image ≡

In just seven days... I can make you a MAH-HA-HA-HA-HAN!

posted by bmarkey 08 January | 23:57

with blonde hair and a tan?

posted by jonmc 08 January | 23:59

It's not as if Hastings can't get the procedure done elsewhere, and it's not as if you can't buy condoms at Walgreens.

Well, some people can. It's rather an urban bias to assume there's always another hospital, drug store, or whatever within walking distance.

posted by occhiblu 09 January | 00:11

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