Advertisement Carmichael faith-based hospital denies transgender man hysterectomy Evan Minton claims hospital canceled surgery because he is transgender Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A transgender man who was scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy said the hospital canceled his surgery a day before it was scheduled.Evan Michael Minton claims Mercy San Juan in Carmichael refused to treat him because he is transgender.“For me, in order to live my most authentic life, this is what I need to do for myself,” Minton said.Minton said he needs to have a hysterectomy three months before a phalloplasty. The hysterectomy was scheduled months in advance and everything seemed fine. He said they were “already pushing it close” because his phalloplasty was scheduled for Nov. 23."I have to reschedule the phalloplasty, and so the waiting list is at least 7 to 9 months," Minton explained. "So it's like, 'what am I going to do with my life during that time?'"On Sunday, when the hospital went over his pre-operation checklist, Minton mentioned something the hospital may not have known.“I said, 'you know what, can you please make a special note in my chart that says I’m transgender because my pronouns mean a lot to me. I need to go by he, him and his,'” Minton said.Then on Monday, his doctor, Lindsey Dawson, found out the hospital would not allow her to do Minton's surgery. Dawson explained she was scheduled to do two hysterectomies Tuesday, but only Minton’s was canceled.“They were unable to do his surgery as it went against the Catholic directives of the hospital,” Dawson said.“(The doctor) said this is clear cut discrimination bc {sic} I am transgender,” Minton wrote on Facebook. “There is nothing in their policies that says that they won't treat trans folk.”In a statement, Mercy San Juan said it does not provide sterilization services unless there is a serious medical condition that cannot be treated in another manner."In general, it is our practice not to provide sterilization services at Dignity Health’s Catholic facilities in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs) and the medical staff bylaws," the statement reads in part. "When a service is not offered, the patient’s physician makes arrangements for the care of his/her patient at a facility that does provide the needed service."The hospital tried to schedule Minton's hysterectomy at another hospital, but it conflicted with the Dawson's schedule.Now, Minton and Dawson are planning the hysterectomy at a different hospital in a few weeks. Minton said the longer these surgeries are postponed, the worse he feels about himself."I get gender dysphoria so bad that I want to crawl out my skin," he explained.---Read the hospital's full statement below:"At Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center, the services we provide are available to all members of the communities we serve without discrimination. Because of privacy laws, we are not able to discuss specifics of patients' care. In general, it is our practice not to provide sterilization services at Dignity Health’s Catholic facilities in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs) and the medical staff bylaws. Procedures that induce sterility are permitted when their direct effect is the cure or alleviation of a present and serious pathology and a simpler treatment is not available. When a service is not offered, the patient’s physician makes arrangements for the care of his/her patient at a facility that does provide the needed service."41429040