Transgender inmate sues over being denied hormone meds
A female transgender inmate serving a murder sentence filed a lawsuit on June 9 against the central government for denying her access to hormone therapy while she was in a detention center in Tokyo.
Filed with the Tokyo District Court, the suit claims that the Justice Ministry’s Tokyo Detention House caused “physical and mental pain” to the 29-year-old plaintiff by not allowing her to take female hormones.
“If there is a sudden pause in the administration of hormones, there could be enormous physical damage,” said a lawyer representing the plaintiff. “Penal institutions also have the obligation to provide treatments for detainees or inmates.”
A Justice Ministry official said, “We cannot comment as we have not yet received the complaint.”
The plaintiff, now serving time in prison, is demanding 10 million yen ($93,300) in compensation.
more...
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201606100044.html
