Argentina Approves Law Making Sex-Change Surgery a Legal Right
Argentina has approved a law that would give people a right to change their gender and even get required surgeries covered by medical plans.
The law was passed on Wednesday by 55 to nil, with one abstention. President Cristina Fernandez, who was in favor of the law, is expected to sign it.
‘Tonight we are really happy, really proud of our movement and our allies, and ready to make this law work to change our reality, It’s a law grounded in the right to identity, establishing informed consent as the best practice for trans access to health,” said Mauro Cabral, campaigner for the law, Global Action for Trans Equality.
The operations and hormone therapy will not have extra charge as they will be part of “Obligatory Medical Plan” offered by public and private healthcare providers.
According to the law, adults above age 18 can change their gender without prior consent from doctors or judges. Children who wish to change their gender will require consent from their legal guardian.
"There's a whole set of medical criteria that people have to meet to change their gender in the U.S., and meanwhile this gives the individual an extraordinary amount of authority for how they want to live. It's really incredible," said Katrina Karkazis, Stanford University medical anthropologist, bioethicist and author of “Fixing Sex,” to AP.
Argentina also passed “dignified death” law by a vote of 55 to nil with 17 abstentions. The law will give terminally ill people the right to refuse treatment. In situations where people can’t communicate their will due to medical conditions, the relatives can make the decisions about stopping the life support system.