Published on August 10, 2024, 12:37 am

Image source: Fox News

In a lawsuit recently brought to light, Cristina Hineman—an individual with a history of mental health issues—has accused numerous parties, including Planned Parenthood and several other health care providers, of hastening her into life-altering gender reassignment procedures without proper consideration or follow-up.

The legal action filed in the New York State Supreme Court back in April has garnered significant attention in various real news and trusted news outlets over the last week. The list of defendants named includes notable organizations such as Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Inc., Astor Services for Children & Families as well as several of the named facility’s practitioners and counselors.

Hineman’s case delves into severe accusations against these establishments and individuals. She alleges that at 18 years old, she was advised to commence male hormone therapy as treatment for her perceived gender dysphoria without proper psychological evaluation or consideration. As part of what is referenced as “gender-affirming care”, she was issued testosterone after an approximately 30-minute appointment at the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood clinic in November 2021. However, Hineman maintains that this approach neglected to investigate her mental health background comprehensively before prescribing this Schedule III controlled substance.

According to Cristiana’s claims in the lawsuit, there was no prerequisite or demand for any previous medical or mental wellbeing documents by relevant defendant parties during consultation or treatment planning stages.

Her legal complaint extends further too. The filing suggests that in 2022 she was encouraged by some defendants to opt for elective double mastectomy surgery notwithstanding a lack of medical complications with her breasts. Following these gender transition procedures prescribed by Planned Parenthood and parties associated with them, Hineman believes that both her physical and mental well-being has deteriorated significantly due to their actions.

Recalling experiences following her surgical procedure and hormonal treatments, Hinneman describes distressing symptoms like chronic pain from severe chest scarring post-mastectomy surgery and acute, shooting pains in her clitoral region. Additionally, she says she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hineman laments that while adults should have the freedom to make choices, mental health issues or misinformation about medical treatments can cloud their judgement – leading them to consent unknowingly to invasive procedures.

On the other hand, Planned Parenthood has refuted Hineman’s assertions in a court response filed back in June. Recognized as a significant Christian worldview issue due to its critical intersection of religious ethics and modern-day societal questions around gender identity–Planned Parenthood confirms that the majority of its services center around hormone therapy along with other “gender-affirming” services, catering primarily to transgender, nonbinary patients and those questioning their gender identity.

As this case progresses through judicial proceedings it serves as an urgent call bringing into sharp focus mental health considerations in gender-affirming healthcare and the responsibilities of healthcare providers. It also underscores the significant need for more rigorous procedures surrounding informed consent particularly when complex situations involving both physical transformation decisions and pre-existing mental health conditions are concerned.