Lahore woman seeks doctor's opinion for daughter's sex change surgery

Petitioner claims her daughter’s gynaecological features have changed

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has sought the recommendations of doctors in a case related to the sex reassignment surgery of a 24-year-old woman filed by her mother.

On Wednesday, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah adjourned further hearing till November 24 while holding proceedings on a petition filed by Shama Begum requesting permission to get the gender of her daughter changed.



Sex reassignment is a surgical procedure by which a transgender person’s physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered of their identified gender.

Shama has sought court order for allowing her daughter to undergo the surgery, claiming her daughter was experiencing extremely painful bouts because of her changing gynaecological features.

The woman was admitted to a hospital where doctors conducted several medical tests. Ultrasound and further examinations confirmed the woman was undergoing sexual transition and needed urgent care. When the mother requested the doctors to change her gender, they refused to do so fearing legal action.

The petitioner said her daughter urgently need sex reassignment surgery as doctors had confirmed she was losing her female reproductive organs.

Shama requested the court to direct the Punjab health secretary to ensure smooth transition of her daughter to a boy as ultrasound reports indicated adequate evidence for gender change.



A Punjab government law officer submitted that the ultrasound reports attached with the petition did not clarify the woman needed the sex change operation.

When the judge asked the petitioner’s counsel to present written recommendations of the doctors, the lawyer said he needed more time.

The chief justice adjourned the hearing after directing the petitioner to present the doctor’s recommendations to make her petition stronger.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.