The Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed a rule change that could end the ban on sex reassignment surgery, following a petition by two transgender veterans in May. Former Marine Dee Fulcher, a transgender woman, expressed the need for equal treatment in accessing necessary healthcare. The proposal aims to address gender dysphoria, a condition marked by a significant difference between one's experienced gender and the gender assigned by others, persisting for at least six months, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-V.
The new proposal argues that there is sufficient evidence supporting the necessity of surgical techniques for treating gender dysphoria. Recent medical research highlights the severe medical consequences for certain patients if transition-related surgeries and procedures are not provided. The surgeries would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, removing barriers to transition-related care deemed medically necessary by the veteran's treatment team.
The approval process is anticipated to take up to 22 months, involving reviews by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Veterans Affairs, with public comments taken into consideration.
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