Trans Teen Denied Medically Necessary Surgery

A 16-year-old transgender teen's planned breast reduction surgery was abruptly canceled on December 22, just hours before it was set to occur. Novant Health cited concerns that the procedure was not adequately "medically justifiable" and was "geared toward transgender intent." The teen's mother stated her child suffers from macromastia, a condition causing severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, for which a breast reduction was recommended by their pediatrician.

Despite having surgeon approval and insurance clearance, the surgery was postponed. This delay has resulted in the family incurring new, high out-of-pocket expenses as the procedure was rescheduled into a new calendar year, meaning their insurance deductible was no longer met. The family is now questioning whether transgender minors are receiving equitable medical care, especially when state laws allow for such procedures under specific medical conditions.

Novant Health has since apologized for the cancellation, referring to it as a postponement, and has escalated the matter to its corporate risk management team. The health system stated its decisions prioritize health, safety, and compliance. However, the family believes the cancellation constitutes discrimination, leaving their child to continue experiencing discomfort and facing new financial and medical challenges.