Massachusetts Corrections Department to Challenge Upholding of Inmate Sex-Reassignment Surgery

Massachusetts law enforcement officials stated their plans to appeal a decision that would provide an inmate serving life a sex-change operation.

According to the Associated Press, the state's Department of Correction announced that the decision to allow a taxpayer-funded gender reassignment would be challenged. Officials are hoping to get Michelle Kosilek's case to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, AP reported.

Kosilek, who is currently serving on murder charges, first requested a sex-reassignment surgery in 2012, when it was denied. At the time of the lawsuit, United States District Judge Mark Wolf ruled the surgery was the sole treatment for Kosilek's gender identity disorder. Prison officials tried appealing the ruling, but the court upheld the initial decision earlier in January.

"Having carefully considered the relevant law and the extensive factual record, we affirm the judgment of the district court," the ruling at the time read.

Now, prison officials are arguing that Kosilek went through more than enough therapy to treat her gender identity disorder, received female hormones and laser hair removal.

"While we acknowledge the legitimacy of a gender identity disorder diagnosis, DOC's appeal is based on the lower court's significant expansion of the standard for what constitutes adequate care under the Eighth Amendment, and on substantial safety concerns regarding Ms. Kosilek's post surgery needs" the DOC wrote in a statement on Friday.