This press release came to us from the InYourFace online news service.

[Washington, D.C.: 20 Mar 98] U.S. DISTRICT Court (D.C.) has ruled that transexuals are entitled to treatment for their "disorder" while incarcerated in federal prison. This treatment can include hormone therapy and psychological counseling.

The case arose when pre-op transexual woman Dee Farmer, imprisoned in Butner, NC, alleged medical mistreatment by the Board of Prisons' Medical Director, Dr. Morigitsu, saying Morigitsu had failed to approve treatment for her.

The Court's ruling requires that Farmer receive treatment. However, it left undecided what level of treatment Farmer is entitled to; and whether requiring transsexuals to show a history of prior treatment before receiving hormone therapy violates their rights of Equal Protection, as other federal prisoners do not have to prove prior treatment of a condition to receive medical care.

Back to IFGE Home