Feb 27, 2008 12:33 am US/Pacific
Daly City Hospital Allows Transgender Surgery
Linda Yee, Reporting
DALY CITY (CBS 5) ―
Transgender Charlene Hastings has claimed a moral victory against a Catholic hospital. She forced Seton Medical Center in Daly City to back down on its policy against plastic surgeries for transgenders.
"I'm glad they recognize that they made a mistake," said Hastings.
In 2006, Seton refused to give Hastings breast implants. Hastings said a worker told her, "It was God's plan" for her to have the surgery.
A memo by hospital administrators at the time notified plastic surgeons that "Transgender procedures, or procedures that are part of the transgendering process, may not be performed at Seton, as Seton is a Catholic hospital." Hastings sued for discrimination.
In a written statement released to CBS 5 Tuesday night, a Seton Medical Center spokesperson said breast augmentation surgeries can be performed on transgenders after all.
"We regret any confusion that may have come from this situation. We want this patient and her physician to know that they are welcome at Seton Medical Center," the statement said.
"I don't know where the confusion is, other than perhaps they were confused that it was illegal," said Hastings attorney Chris Dolan.
Dolan says despite the sudden reversal, the discrimination lawsuit for monetary damages is still on.
"Like any good religious experience, first you need enlightenment, and then you need atonement," Dolan said. "And what we have here, perhaps, is a glimpse of enlightenment. Has it changed their heart? I don't think so. Will it change their practice? It better."
Hastings still plans on getting breast implants, but not at Seton.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable going to Seton, even though they changed their policy. I just would feel like they're doing it under duress," Hastings said.
Seton insists Catholic values prohibit the hospital from performing "sex reassignment" surgeries. But will allow transgenders to receive breast augmentation operations.
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