28 August 2021 — 26-Year-Old Trans Man Dies As a Result of Complications from Illegal Gender Reassignment Surgery Due to Years-Long Government Process, Egypt
A 26-year-old man died on the 28th of August 2021 due to complications from an illegal gender reassignment surgery. Ezz Eddin underwent a hysterectomy at a private hospital in Dokki, Giza, where he had chosen to have the surgery, even though the hospital was unauthorised to perform gender reassignment surgery. As the hospital performed the surgery illegally, they discharged Ezz the same day instead of keeping him for observation. After discharge, Ezz fell ill, returned to the hospital for a follow-up, fell into a coma and died.
Lawyer Nesma al-Khatib, who was in contact with Ezz Eddin before his death, told Mada Masr that his family has not pressed any legal charges in relation to his death because they did not support Ezz Eddin’s transition. Doctors Syndicate council member Ibrahim al-Zayat also said that it would be impossible to file a lawsuit to seek justice for Ezz Eddin’s death since there is no proof that the doctor performed the procedure to begin with.
People wishing to have sex reassignment surgery in Egypt have to go through long, complex procedures. They must first apply to the Sex Reassignment Committee at the national Doctors Syndicate, which subjects applicants of the procedure to a series of physical tests. Each case is then reviewed by urologists and gynecologists, and is finally referred to a psychotherapist. The mental assessment process generally takes no less than two years during which time psychologists assess the case and have a say in whether it is “necessary” or not to refer the applicant for surgery. A seven-member committee made up of doctors and one representative from the religious institution of Al-Azhar will make a final decision about whether or not to approve the candidate’s application for surgery.
If approved, the applicant can have surgery at the state’s expense at a public hospital such as Al-Hussein University Hospital, Demerdash or Qasr al-Aini, or at a private hospital, and will be able to acquire the documentation needed to alter the sex recorded in their official documents.Zayat told Mada Masr that, in practice, the Doctors Syndicate’s committee has not met for years because the Al-Azhar representative refuses to attend, putting thousands of applicants in limbo on a waiting list.
“Ezz Eddin and others [like him] are victims of the lack of safe options to exercise their right to transition. There are people who don’t die, but may suffer permanent disabilities as a result of undergoing the procedures in untrustworthy places,” Khatib said.