Men giving birth on NHS drains life-saving cash
Last week you reported that 23-year-old Scott Parker is the first man to give birth. But while he may have been given the title ‘male’ on his scans as a courtesy, he was born female and has yet to embark on his treatment to transfer his gender from female.
While I sympathise with the transgender community for the angst suffered by those in gender confusion, let’s not forget the funds being diverted from lifesaving medical treatments and used for a community that is making a lifestyle choice.
You quoted £29,000 per person to cover the surgery, reconstruction and hormonal treatment to complete the transition. I also note that Scott’s partner, born female and also transitioning to become a man, will cost the NHS a further £29,000. Surely these patients must be made to pay for their own treatment, given that they are choosing to change, and leave NHS funds for more worthwhile cases. Eira Probert, Caerphilly I am a transgender parent and know that, of course, transsexual women and men can and do make a success of family life. They quietly and prudently go about the business of parenthood.
However, I find the story of Scott Parker troubling. Even without the trans element, there is plenty to concern prudent people – a baby conceived in a chance one-night stand, a parent with a new partner unconnected to the child, and an unorthodox same-sex couple.
Even those with impeccably liberal opinions might still have reservations. With Scott soon to start the male sex-hormone testosterone and his partner also being a trans-man, baby Sara will effectively be brought up by two young men; who is going to be emotionally her mother? Penny Ponders, Edinburgh Since he was born as a girl, Scott Parker’s chromosome make-up would be XX, normal for a woman. Since we cannot change our chromosomes, he is still a woman. He therefore cannot say he is a man giving birth; he is still biologically a woman giving birth. Kerr Wilson, Exeter Surely the fact that Scott Parker could give birth proves that he is a woman and not a man. Debbie Rice, Wigan As ever, the most important thing for a child is that it has loving parents. Scott says he has always wanted to be a parent, and he has a long-term partner. What sex the parents are – or what they identify as – is irrelevant. As long as Scott and his partner turn out to be good, attentive, loving parents, what’s the problem? James Benn, London