Detransitioner Files Canada’s First Lawsuit Against Medical Providers
A detransitioner in Canada has filed the nation’s first lawsuit against the medical providers who facilitated her transition.
“I was never exposed to the idea that my worldview might be wrong…”
Michelle Zacchigna
34-year old biological woman Michelle Zacchigna received testosterone hormone therapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and a hysterectomy under the supervision of numerous physicians, who she now alleges a lawsuit. Zacchigna claims they allowed her to “self-diagnose,” ignored multiple mental conditions, and did not provide alternative treatments to the affirming model of care.
Like many young teens and adults who find solace in the false promises of gender theory, Zacchigna suffered with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts from years of “severe bullying.” She believed that the constant feelings of confusion and dissatisfaction could all be explained by the simple revelation: she didn’t feel “girly” because she wasn’t a girl. This newfound idea consumed Zacchigna, “I became convinced that being transgender explained my entire life,” she said.
“Seven years after being prescribed hormones, I had a psychoeducational assessment and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and major depressive disorder. I had symptoms of post-traumatic stress. I even had a learning disability and a ‘slow processing speed.’ Despite this, my identity was, again, affirmed by professionals and not considered something to look further into.”
Michelle Zacchigna
The Statement of Claim which Zacchigna filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice states that one of the defendants, Rupert Raj a gender therapist “referred Zacchigna for male hormone therapy after just one appointment lasting under an hour.”
Defendant Nadine Lulu, who was Zacchigna’s main therapist following her attempted suicide in 2008, described her an “ideal candidate for hormone therapy” despite his knowledge of her negative thoughts and emotions, and impulsive actions. Defendant Dr. Rick Lindal, Lulu’s supervisor, signed off on the treatment plan — without ever having met Zacchigna.
Defendant Dr. Pamela Leece, who works for St. James Town Health Centre, set Zacchigna up with a testosterone prescription after three appointments. According to the Post Millennial, “Neither Leece, nor her supervisor, Defendant Dr. Cavacuiti consulted with a psychiatrist or psychologist prior to initiating the powerful male hormone.” Both doctors went on to recommend Zacchigna undergo a double mastectomy in 2012. Defendant Dr. Suzanne Turner took over for Dr. Cavacuiti in 2014, but continued to prescribe testosterone to Zacchigna without requesting further psychiatric evaluation.
As Zacchigna continued down the path set forth by her doctors, her therapist, Lulu, finally order what she called a “psychoeducational assessment” which is when her full diagnosis revealed extensive mental health conditions including borderline personality disorder and autism. Since she was a child, Zacchigna recalled feeling out of place and lacking interpersonal skills. When offered a solution which promised to make her feel whole and solve her identity crisis, she did what almost anyone would do: latched on, trusted her doctors, and divulged into the world of transgender dogma which deceivingly guaranteed her happiness.
Her doctors, rather than pressing the issue, investigating, testing, and diagnosing, chose to ignore all other concerns and warning signs as soon as the topic of gender came up.
Not long after learning her results, Zacchigna began identifying as non-binary and stopped taking testosterone drugs — but she was still far from being off the gender affirming conveyer belt of treatments. In 2017, Dr. Turner recommended Zacchigna see Defendant Dr. Rajiv Shah to explore her interest in receiving a “gender affirming” hysterectomy.
“Noting her history of depression and ADHD, and the fact that she was identifying as non-binary and not on any hormones, Shah removed Zacchigna’s uterus in May 2018.”
The Post Millennial
Two years following her hysterectomy, Zacchigna decided to detransition, noting that her diagnoses explained her emotions more than transgenderism ever did. In her lawsuit, Zacchigna alleges that her initial “self-diagnosis” was never challenged by medical professionals. Doctors are supposed to look at symptoms with a different perspective than patients, which should enable them to provide sufficient care — but that’s not how the gender affirming model of care works. Treat first, accurately diagnose later, affirm anything but reality.
Zacchigna is understandably experiencing significant grief over the years of her life spent undergoing irreversible treatments which will leave her forever scarred, especially now having the knowledge that her true diagnosis could have been cared for without the use of invasive, expensive, and harmful surgeries.
“I will live the rest of my life without breasts, with a deepened voice and male-pattern balding, and without the ability to get pregnant. Removing my completely healthy uterus is my greatest regret.”
Michelle Zacchigna
Thousands of people, adults and children, who are either too young to know better or are suffering from a mental illness which impairs their ability to meaningfully consent, are being handed gender affirming treatments on a silver platter. The medical industry’s urge to immediately medicate and mutilate these patients before completing due diligence and testing is a deadly lapse in judgement which needs to be stopped before more suffering is inflicted.
