Correction Appended

David Reimer, a man who was born a boy but raised as a girl in a famous medical experiment, only to reassert his male identity in the last 20 years of his life, died on May 4. He was 38. His family says he committed suicide.

Mr. Reimer shared his story about his life in the pages of a book and on Oprah Winfrey's television show.

His mother, Janet Reimer, said she believed that her son would still be alive had it not been for the devastating experiment, which led to much emotional hardship.

''He managed to have so much courage,'' she said Sunday. ''I think he felt he had no options. It just kept building up and building up.''