...By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Paris Green, a transgender murderer serving a life sentence in a UK prison, has requested NHS-funded gender reassignment surgery.
Green was handed a life sentence for killing Robert Shankland in 2013.
Green and two others beat Shankland to death.
If approved, Green will be the first person in the UK to undergo gender reassignment surgery while in prison.
Previous efforts to do so were halted over concerns for fellow patients.
Green’s Journey
Green, previously known as Peter Laing, began taking hormones in 2011 and identifies as female.
Green met with a surgeon in 2020, but concerns about security were raised due to the nature of the crime.
Despite having to serve at least eight more years, Green hopes to have the surgery done while still in prison.
She believes that undergoing surgery in her 30s will help her have a better recovery and increase her chances of succeeding after release.
The Challenges Ahead
Green is aware that the road to gender reassignment surgery is not easy, especially given her crime.
However, she is grateful for the support she has received from the Scottish Prison Service and hopes that her surgery will be approved.
Green acknowledges that the story is likely to cause a backlash but maintains that her desire to complete her transition is the best road for her.
Green’s story highlights the challenges that transgender people face in accessing gender-affirming healthcare.
It also raises important questions about the rights of prisoners to receive healthcare services, including gender reassignment surgery.
