Non-binary person, 33, in Canada wants taxpayers to fund $70k surgery to give ... trends now
A person in Canada wants taxpayers to fund surgery to make them a vagina while also keeping a functional penis, in a first-of-its-kind case.
The Ontario resident, 33, was born male but identifies as non-binary, meaning they are not exclusively male or female 'but literally a mix', court documents show.
Ontario's Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) initially denied the request on the grounds that the procedure is experimental and is not performed in Canada.
But the patient - referred to only as K.S. - complained to the province's appeals board who overturned the decision, which then prompted a counter-appeal.
Now the case is with Ontario's Superior Court of Justice, which is due to issue its ruling in the coming months.
A non-binary person in Canada wants taxpayers to fund surgery to make them a vagina while also keeping a functional penis (file image)
It is unclear how much the surgery will cost but traditional 'reassignment' procedures usually cost between $10,000 USD and $70,000.
A similar case last June saw the OHIP fund the surgery of a public servant, 41, who had a penis constructed without removing their vagina and uterus - despite initially denying the claim.
The cases reflect a small but growing demand for niche surgeries for people who identify with one of the more complicated gender groups.
According to court documents, K.S. has suffered from gender dysphoria since they were a teen. They are non-binary but skew 'transfeminine' and go by she/her.
K.S.'s doctor, an Ottawa endocrinologist, gave
