We’re suing a hospital for trans discrimination

Good Law Project is suing a hospital that refused to operate on a woman just because she’s trans.

In May 2025, Lisa* was booked in for surgery to have her testes removed due to chronic pain. But a week before the operation was going to take place, the hospital called to say the surgery was cancelled.

The hospital claimed they couldn’t operate because the surgery was classed as gender-affirming care. But surgery for pain has nothing to do with gender-affirming care, and refusing to treat someone just because of their gender identity is discrimination.

To make matters worse, the hospital also failed to provide any alternative treatment plan for Lisa – instead they referred her to a gender clinic where the waiting list for treatment is currently six years.

So we’re taking legal action. We’re representing Lisa, and suing the hospital on the grounds of unlawful direct discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 based on gender reassignment.

The hospital’s decision to abandon Lisa when she was in pain is a shocking failure of medical ethics. But this fight isn’t just about one cancelled surgery. This is about exposing a systemic issue where trans patients are viewed through the lens of politics rather than pathology.

For Charlene Pink, a campaigns manager at Good Law Project, Lisa’s case shines a light on an issue trans people are facing across the UK.

“This appalling treatment isn’t a blip, or an accident,” Pink said. “With the rollback of trans rights in full swing, it’s the obvious outcome of systems that treat trans people as something less than people.”

It’s time to make sure trans people can access the same healthcare we all need.

*Lisa’s name has been changed to protect her anonymity.