Latest news with #K.S.
National Post
27-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
Ontario ends legal battle to avoid covering surgery for non-binary resident who wants a vagina while keeping a penis
A non-binary Ontario resident's years-long battle for a publicly funded, out-of-country surgery to have a vagina surgically created while maintaining a penis is over. Article content The Ontario government says it won't ask the Supreme Court of Canada to review a lower court's ruling in April declaring that the novel phallus-preserving surgery qualifies as an insured service under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) — the latest win for the patient, identified only as K.S. Article content Article content The province had until June 23 to seek leave to appeal the April court ruling to the country's highest court. In an email to National Post this week, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General said the government won't pursue the case. Article content Article content The lengthy legal battle between K.S., who was born male, dates back to 2022. K.S. does not identify as either exclusively female or male, but is female dominant and uses feminine or neutral pronounces (she/her/they/them). Article content According to court records, K.S. 'has experienced significant gender dysphoria since her teenage years, as well as physical, mental and economic hardships to transition her gender expression to align with her gender identity.' Article content In 2022, her Ottawa doctor requested pre-approval from OHIP for a vaginoplasty — the surgical creation of a vaginal cavity — but without a penectomy, which is when the penis is removed. Article content Article content In a letter to OHIP, K.S.' doctor said that her patient 'identifies as trans feminine but not completely on the 'feminine' end of the spectrum and for this reason it's important for her to have a vagina while maintaining a penis.' Article content Article content A vaginoplasty without a penectomy isn't available in Canada and, therefore, the funding was to have the procedure done at the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in Austin, Texas, which 'has an excellent reputation (for gender-affirming surgery) and especially with these more complicated procedures,' the doctor wrote to OHIP. Article content K.S. appealed OHIP's denial of coverage to a tribunal. K.S. testified to concerns about the risk of urinary incontinence if she went through with a penectomy, 'the risk of losing the ability to experience an orgasm and the concern that removing her penis would invalidate her non-binary identity,' according to court documents.
Vancouver Sun
27-06-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Ontario ends legal battle to avoid covering surgery for non-binary resident who wants a vagina while keeping a penis
A non-binary Ontario resident's years-long battle for a publicly funded, out-of-country surgery to have a vagina surgically created while maintaining a penis is over. The Ontario government says it won't ask the Supreme Court of Canada to review a lower court's ruling in April declaring that the novel phallus-preserving surgery qualifies as an insured service under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) — the latest win for the patient, identified only as K.S. The province had until June 23 to seek leave to appeal the April court ruling to the country's highest court. In an email to National Post this week, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General said the government won't pursue the case. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It's not clear how requests for similar niche gender surgeries will be decided or adjudicated in the future. The lengthy legal battle between K.S., who was born male, dates back to 2022. K.S. does not identify as either exclusively female or male, but is female dominant and uses feminine or neutral pronounces (she/her/they/them). According to court records, K.S. 'has experienced significant gender dysphoria since her teenage years, as well as physical, mental and economic hardships to transition her gender expression to align with her gender identity.' In 2022, her Ottawa doctor requested pre-approval from OHIP for a vaginoplasty — the surgical creation of a vaginal cavity — but without a penectomy, which is when the penis is removed. In a letter to OHIP, K.S.' doctor said that her patient 'identifies as trans feminine but not completely on the 'feminine' end of the spectrum and for this reason it's important for her to have a vagina while maintaining a penis.' A vaginoplasty without a penectomy isn't available in Canada and, therefore, the funding was to have the procedure done at the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in Austin, Texas, which 'has an excellent reputation (for gender-affirming surgery) and especially with these more complicated procedures,' the doctor wrote to OHIP. OHIP denied the coverage, arguing a vaginoplasty without removal of the penis isn't listed as a separate, specific procedure under its schedule of benefits, and therefore didn't qualify for coverage. K.S. appealed OHIP's denial of coverage to a tribunal. K.S. testified to concerns about the risk of urinary incontinence if she went through with a penectomy, 'the risk of losing the ability to experience an orgasm and the concern that removing her penis would invalidate her non-binary identity,' according to court documents. The review board overturned OHIP's refusal, arguing that vaginoplasty and penectomy are listed as separate, sex reassignment procedures covered by OHIP, and that a vaginoplasty need not inherently include removal of the penis. OHIP appealed to the Ontario Divisional Court, but lost again when a three-member panel of judges unanimously backed the tribunal's position. That court also said that denying the procedure would infringe on K.S.' Charter-protected rights. The court concluded that insisting that a transgender or non-binary person born a biological male 'remove their penis to receive state funding for a vaginoplasty would be inconsistent with the values of equality and security of the person.' OHIP appealed again, losing a third time to the Ontario Court of Appeal which, in another unanimous decision released in April, dismissed OHIP's appeal and confirmed the lower court's ruling. The three-member panel of judges for the appeal court said a penectomy was 'neither recommended by K.S.' health professionals nor desired by K.S.' and that it was up to the drafters of OHIP's list of insured services to describe each sex reassignment procedure 'in broad or narrow terms. 'Here, the description chosen, 'vaginoplasty,' is broad enough to encompass different techniques,' the appeal court said. 'There is no suggestion that the existence of different techniques of performing a vaginoplasty detract from the more basic notion that the procedure recommended for K.S. is still vaginoplasty.' Egale Canada, which appeared as an intervener for K.S., has described the surgical care K.S. sought as one that 'challenges expectations and stereotypes of gender and surgical transition.' 'An interpretation of the eligibility criteria for gender-affirming surgeries that relies on binary stereotypes is discriminatory and denies equal dignity and autonomy to nonbinary people,' the LGBTQ rights group has said. K.S.'s lawyer, reached Friday, referred National Post to previous comments, made after a prior victory in the courts. 'K.S. is pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision, which is now the third unanimous ruling confirming that her gender affirming surgery is covered under Ontario's Health Insurance Act and its regulations,' John McIntyre said. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Hope, precision and healing: advancing brain tumour care
A brain tumour is an abnormal mass or growth of cells in the brain. The sudden and unpredictable nature of brain tumours highlight how these conditions can affect individuals of any age, often without warning. These complex tumours range from benign growths to aggressive cancers. Increasing awareness about early symptoms and treatment options can dramatically improve clinical outcomes for patients, giving them a second chance at life. Stories of hope All patients with brain tumours have a unique story of how they faced their distinct set of challenges. Consider the story of Mr. G, a devoted father and businessman diagnosed with a right temporal glioblastoma. In an initial surgery, only the tumour's core was removed, and the cancer margins regrew to their original size before radiation could be started. An MRI scan revealed that another surgery was needed. With an intraoperative ultrasound and neuronavigation, our team at was able to remove the tumour completely and safely. Today, Mr. G is stable and recovering well. He will soon receive Proton Beam Therapy — a form of targeted radiation. Neuronavigation systems provide GPS-like precision inside the brain, while an intraoperative ultrasound helps locate the tumour in real time. Together, these tools have increased the extent of tumour removal — a factor closely tied to survival. Some tumours hide in the brain's deepest, most delicate regions. This was the case with 18-year-old K.S. from Ethiopia, who first underwent surgery and radiation for a brain tumour in 2019. When he returned to India in early 2024 with one-sided weakness, imaging revealed a cystic lesion with a calcified component deep within the midbrain. Pathology confirmed it as a benign pilocytic astrocytoma. After draining the cyst, there was some improvement but symptoms recurred a year later. Facing a recurrence in a high-risk location, an ultrasonic aspirator and meticulous microsurgical techniques were used to remove the lesion entirely. Now tumour-free, K.S. has returned home with a restored future. In hard-to-reach brain areas that control speech, movement, and vision, ultrasonic surgical aspirators are vital. At 19, Mr. E experienced sudden seizures and foot paralysis. Scans revealed a 3 cm tumour situated in the right motor cortex, the area that controls voluntary movement. Preserving function in such delicate terrain is paramount. Surgeons used real-time neurophysiological monitoring with neuro-navigation and an intraoperative ultrasound to map critical brain regions and guide the resection. A tiny residual margin, deemed too risky for surgical removal, was scheduled for precision proton therapy. Neurophysiological monitoring tracks brain function during surgery, helping surgeons avoid damage to critical areas and preserve key abilities like movement and speech. Modern advances in medical technology Brain tumour care has evolved dramatically since the days of basic imaging and single-angle X-rays. Modern neuro-navigation systems function like an internal GPS, while intraoperative ultrasounds provide live visualisation of tumour boundaries. Ultrasonic aspirators rapidly break up tumour tissue with sound waves, enabling gentle suction and irrigation that shorten the duration of surgery. In radiation therapy, proton beam treatment delivers radiation layer by layer, conforming tightly to the tumour, sparing surrounding tissues and reducing side effects by up to 60%, particularly in children. For patients who cannot undergo surgery or have deep-seated lesions, gyroscopic radiosurgery platforms offer fully non-invasive, outpatient treatments in sessions as brief as 30 minutes, targeting tumours from multiple angles with surgical precision. No single specialty works in isolation. Each individual with a brain tumour diagnosis benefits from a multidisciplinary tumour board - neurosurgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, imaging specialists, pathologists, geneticists, and rehabilitation therapists collaborate on every diagnosis and treatment plan. Advanced technology and compassionate care go hand in hand, ensuring every patient feels informed and supported throughout their journey. The power of early action Brain tumours can be unpredictable: some remain stable for years, while others can double in size within weeks. Persistent headaches, sudden vision changes, seizures, memory lapses, or unexplained limb weakness should never be overlooked. Timely MRI or CT scans can open the door to more treatment options and better outcomes. As cutting-edge technology continues to develop and care teams refine their expertise, the message is one of optimism that even in the most complex cases, there remains hope for healing. By turning early warnings into prompt action, patients can look forward to the brightest possible tomorrow with a chance at a new life! (Dr. Ari G. Chacko is a senior consultant, neurosurgery and director of neurosciences, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai. arichacko@
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Non-binary Canadian wins lawsuit forcing taxpayers to pay for surgery so they can have a penis AND a vagina
A non-binary Canadian's $70,000 gender affirming surgery - that will see her keep her penis and get a vagina constructed - will be fully funded by taxpayers, a top judge ruled. K.S., who was born a male at birth, uses female pronouns but does not identify as either fully male or fully female, according to documents from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, reviewed by The 34-year-old, who is only identified by her initials in the legal filing, sued the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in 2022 after the company denied her request to pay for the cost of surgery to construct a 'neo-vagina' at a clinic in Texas. She wanted to build a female sex organ in the gap between her scrotum and anus - while also keeping her fully-functioning male sex organ. Now, the brunt of the $70,000 for surgery and flights to the US will fall on Canadian taxpayers after a landmark win in court. Dr. Irena Druce, an endocrinologist at the Ottawa Hospital, submitted a 'Request for Prior Approval for Funding of Sex-Reassignment Surgery' - which cost $10,000 to $70,000 - for K.S. after completing multiple assessments on her along with Yael Sela, a mental health counselor. Together, they determined K.S. has 'persistent gender dysphoria.' They said she was qualified to undergo the surgery because she had undergone hormone therapy for a year and 'lived for 12 continuous months in a gender role congruent with her gender identity,' the appeal said. The procedure, also known as penile-sparing vaginoplasty, is only available in Texas. It is not allowed in Canada, but the money would pay for her to travel to the US to get the surgery, according to Reduxx. The insurer argued the surgery cannot be publicly funded because the vaginoplasty would not be accompanied by a penectomy and is therefore not a procedure listed on its schedule of benefits. The company, which is run by President and CEO Matthew Anderson, also argued that the procedure is considered experimental in Ontario and not eligible for coverage, the appeal, submitted on April 22, said. K.S. then appealed the denial to the Health And Services Appeal and Review Board - who then overturned OHIP's initial decision, arguing that it should be covered even if a penectomy is not performed. OHIP appealed that, but lost again after the panel determined the surgery - which would leave her penis completely functional and create a 'neo-vagina' in the space between her penis and anus - would be fully insured. The province's appeal was heard on November 26, 2024 as three judges - Benjamin Zarnett, Steve Coroza and Lise Favreau - rejected the company's arguments to deny coverage because a penectomy was 'neither recommended by K.S.'s health professionals nor desired by K.S,' the court's decision stated. The appeal's court also said: 'The existence of different techniques to perform a vaginoplasty does not affect this conclusion. It was open to the drafters of the Schedule of Benefits to describe each specifically listed service in broad or narrow terms. Here the description chosen, 'vaginoplasty', is broad enough to encompass different techniques.' They added that 'a vaginoplasty without a penectomy is an insured service because it is still a vaginoplasty, a specifically listed service,' the document read. K.S.'s physician said in a letter that she 'identifies as transfeminine but not completely on the "feminine" end of the spectrum and for this reason it's important for her to have a vagina while maintaining her penis,' documents said. According to Dr. Druce's biography, she is a clinician investigator that focuses on inflammation and chronic disease with an interest 'transgender health.' 'And her hope is to contribute to clinical research in this domain as her career continues,' it continued. In addition to winning the case to get the surgery, K.S. was also awarded $23,250 by the three judges, the filing said. The province of Ontario has until June 23 to appeal the latest decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. Her lawyer, John McIntyre, told National Post his client 'is pleased' with the decision. 'K.S. is pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision, which is now the third unanimous ruling confirming that her gender affirming surgery is covered under Ontario's Health Insurance Act and its regulation,' McIntyre said. Soon after her first win last April, K.S. took to social media to celebrate her win and posted to a Reddit board for 'bigenital' individuals, per Reduxx. In those posts, K.S. said she suffered from bipolar disorder, was a disability advocate. K.S., who has since deleted her Reddit account, also delved into her sexual fetishes, describing herself as a 'transgender baby' and a 'little' - someone who is attracted to diapers and 'obsessed' with urinary and fecal incontinence, loss of control in the bladder and bowels. There, she also claimed she designed her bedroom to reflect that of an eight-year-old girl, the outlet found. Many of her posts were made to the Adult Baby Diaper Lover (ABDL) on Reddit - a group where people are sexually aroused while acting like babies or children. K.S. has also spoken about her mental health struggles on the platform, detailing her suicidal ideations related to child abuse and little mental health support.
Toronto Sun
25-04-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
MANDEL: Ontario must cover U.S. surgery for trans patient who wants a vagina — and to keep her penis
Medical doctor writing on patient personal health care record discharge form, or prescription paperwork in hospital office, clinic centre for healthcare and life insurance concept. Photo by iStock / GETTY IMAGES Behold your tax dollars at work. OHIP has been ordered, for the third time, to pay for an out-of-country surgery for an Ontario trans, nonbinary patient who wants to keep the P while she gets the V. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The provincial insurer argued that vaginoplasty is a listed, insured gender-affirming service — but only if it came along with the usual removal of the person's existing penis. But K.S., who doesn't identify as exclusively male or female, wanted to have both. Called penile-preserving vaginoplasty, the procedure creates a fully functional vagina without surgically removing the penis. According to the decision, K.S., who's sex assigned at birth was male, is female dominant and 'suffered physical, mental, and economic hardships to transition her gender expression to align with her gender identity.' In May 2022, her doctor submitted the required request for prior funding approval to OHIP for a vaginoplasty — but without the usually accompanying removal of her penis. '(K.S.) identifies as transfeminine but not completely on the 'feminine' end of the spectrum and for this reason it's important for her to have a vagina while maintaining her penis,' the doctor explained. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Since that wasn't offered anywhere in Ontario, K.S. was asking for OHIP to fund the novel 'bottom surgery' at the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in Austin, Texas. When OHIP denied coverage, insisting the vaginoplasty wasn't covered without a penectomy, K.S. successfully appealed to t he Health Services Appeal and Review Board where she testified that removing her penis carried risks of incontinence, sexual dysfunction and removal of her nonbinary identity. OHIP's expert, Dr. Yonah Krakowski, told the board that current opinion agreed that penile preservation vaginoplasty was experimental. ' There is no peer-reviewed literature to support its indications, or the surgical techniques used in the process. Further, there is no longer term data reporting psychological or physical outcomes,' said Krakowski, Division Head of Trans Surgery at Women's College Hospital. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Still, the board agreed vaginoplasty without penectomy is a specifically listed service in OHIP's schedule of benefits and must be approved for public coverage. OHIP then took the matter to the Divisional Court, which also ruled in K.S.'s favour. Vaginoplasty and penectomy are listed as separate, approved surgeries under OHIP, the court found. And forcing someone to ' remove their penis to receive state funding for a vaginoplasty would be inconsistent with the values of equality and security of the person. ' Now, Ontario's highest court has also come down against OHIP's refusal. 'The vaginoplasty recommended for K.S. is an insured service because vaginoplasty is specifically included in the Schedule of Benefits' listing of specific sex-reassignment surgical procedures that are insured services, and because K.S. meets the stringent requirements for prior authorization of that surgery,' wrote Justice Benjamin Zarnett on behalf of the three-judge panel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Those requirements include assessments which confirm the patient has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, underwent 12 continuous months of hormone therapy, lived for 12 continuous months in a gender role congruent with their gender identity, and is recommended for the surgery. Read More 'K.S. is pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision, which is now the third unanimous ruling confirming that her gender affirming surgery is covered under Ontario's Health Insurance Act and its regulations,' her lawyer John McIntyre wrote in an email to the Toronto Sun. According to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, an intervenor in the case, 'the Court of Appeal for Ontario is a victory for equitable and non-discriminatory healthcare funding for trans, non-binary and gender diverse people in Ontario.' OHIP was also ordered to pay K.S.'s legal costs of $23,500 — on top of the $20,000 in costs they had to pay for their appeal to the Divisional Court. But really, that's out of our pockets, of course, including the thousands of (American) dollars it will cost for this out-of-country niche and experimental surgery. mmandel@ RECOMMENDED VIDEO World Columnists Toronto & GTA Canada Columnists
