Hospitals around the country have canceled or delayed surgeries and procedures for “non-life-threatening” medical conditions in order to free up healthcare personnel to treat coronavirus patients.
But one minority group believes they are being inconvenienced by people with life-threatening illnesses related to Covid-19.
On March 19, VICE magazine published an article titled, “As Hospitals Prepare for COVID-19, Life-Saving Trans Surgeries Are Delayed.”
The writer blamed the coronavirus outbreak for the cancellation of “lifesaving” surgeries to cut off healthy body parts such as breasts and genitals.
VICE interviewed “a handful of people” who say they face delays from getting their body parts removed in “gender-affirming” surgeries, which VICE called “life-altering procedures”.
Riley Cooper, a 23-year-old biological female, wants “top surgery” to lop off her breasts so her physical image can be closer to a masculine image.
“This is the third time it’s been postponed,” Cooper complained to VICE. “It’s getting more and more heartbreaking to keep getting so close to something that will make me feel better and feel like I’m in the right body for once.”
Joshua Safer, executive director at Mount Sinai’s Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, told VICE that staff are reaching out to patients who already underwent procedures to ensure continuity in their post-surgical care.
“As soon as it is safe to do so, all postponed surgeries and clinic appointments will be rescheduled with the highest priority,” Safer said.
