Posted on May 10, 2014

Should the DOD afford Bradley Manning medical treatment for gender reassignment?

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Manning was convicted in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, after releasing the largest set of classified documents ever leaked to the public. Manning was sentenced in August 2013 to 35 years confinement with the possibility of parole in eight years, and to be dishonorably discharged from the Army. Manning declared himself trans-gender immediately after sentencing. Should the DOD fund his hormone treatment while he is in prison?
I say no way, but would love to hear the communities' opinion.

Posted in these groups: Ucmj

UCMJ

Espionage

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 22

Suspended Profile

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

Dear MAJ Waldrup,

This is a very good question which is extremely difficult to answer.

We are obligated to ensure the health and welfare of any prisoner.
Does medical condition compromise health enough to justify cost?

I vote no absent evidence of major medical / psychological trauma.

Warmest Regards, Sandy

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LTC (Join to see)

>1 y

He can't have been on hormone therapy unless he lied....being transgender does not meet the standard for enlistment(chapter 2 AR 40-501) so if this was present prior to enlistment he was enlisted fraudulently. According to Chapter 3-35 of AR 40-501 relating to retention states that transgender personnel are administratively unfit for duty. These individuals are dealt with through administrative channels and not through the medical disability evaluation system(DES)...Lastly, if he is determined to commit suicide due to his psychological/psychiatric disorder there are other ways to deal with that rather than giving in to his demands. The proper treatment for that is suicide watch, intense psychotherapy and anti-psychotics-if indicated, not gender reassignment. Since he is incarcerated, he is not authorized to commit suicide so he would be put on suicide watch and intense psychotherapy.

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Suspended Profile

>1 y

My understanding is that we are required to maintain the prisoner's health status; but, we are not obligated to help the prisoner make further advances toward reassignment.

Surely someone can provide us the rules re medical care of prisoners.

SGT Craig Northacker

10 y

There are a number of advances for transgender rights by the Department of Justice. Gender Dysphoria is a medical condition at this time, and therefore subject to medical care. The VA offers care for transgenders, but not Sexual Reassignment Therapy. Military regulations are great, but they are subject to the Constitution and prevailing law. If the law has changed, then the regs must follow. I do not know the answers, just looking at some behind the scenes aspects.

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SGT Craig Northacker

10 y

That being said, how does his(her) arrival in his(her) new address as a result of a conviction of very serious charges impact serving a debt to society, as opposed to being rewarded by an expensive process?
While I do not have any research in the matter, anecdotal observations do not recall any other transgender being convicted of treason, so being a transgender is immaterial to the charge.

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SSgt (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

He annoys me as I get the feeling we are being mocked.

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SGT(P) (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Nope! Not at all. That is wen optional treatment. Look at the treatment our own vets that served honorably received. Sheesh, even active duty have to jump through hoops to obtain medical care. Just saying, don't ask don't tell has been repealed, yet transgender troops are still not allowed. Why should this traitor get privileges honorably serving troops aren't even afforded?

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Should the DOD afford Bradley Manning medical treatment for gender reassignment?

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