Caleigh
08-21-2007, 05:15 AM
World Briefing | Americas
Brazil: Free Sex-Change Operations
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 18, 2007
Brazil’s public health system will begin providing free gender-reassignment operations in compliance with a court order, the Health Ministry said. A panel of federal judges ruled that sexual reassignment surgery was covered under a constitutional clause guaranteeing medical care as a basic right. Brazil’s public health system offers free care to all Brazilians. The ministry said it would be up to local officials to decide who qualified for the surgery and what priority it would be given compared with other operations within the health system.
Brazil: Free Sex-Change Operations
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 18, 2007
Brazil’s public health system will begin providing free gender-reassignment operations in compliance with a court order, the Health Ministry said. A panel of federal judges ruled that sexual reassignment surgery was covered under a constitutional clause guaranteeing medical care as a basic right. Brazil’s public health system offers free care to all Brazilians. The ministry said it would be up to local officials to decide who qualified for the surgery and what priority it would be given compared with other operations within the health system.