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Medical Care

Court Filing Reveals Trans Woman's Battle for Prison Healthcare

2024-12-12

Sofia Cano, a 22-year-old transgender woman, finds herself trapped in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Over four years have passed since prison system employees documented her gender dysphoria diagnosis, yet SCDC officials are preventing her from accessing essential medical care. This situation paints a grim picture of the state prison system's mistreatment of transgender individuals.

"Transgender Prisoner's Fight for Healthcare Rights in South Carolina"

The State of Gender-Affirming Healthcare in S.C. Prisons

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) policy claims to provide "medically necessary care" throughout incarceration. However, there's an exception for gender dysphoria. Under a "freeze-frame" policy, hormones for hormone replacement therapy are not purchased or prescribed unless the incarcerated person was already using them before incarceration. This creates a double standard where patients can receive certain medications for other conditions but not for gender dysphoria.About 30 transgender women are currently in SCDC custody. The legal team has uncovered how the prison system fails to meet their basic needs. SCDC employees witness the suffering of transgender inmates denied healthcare like hormone therapy and basic dignity. They have even seen patients consider and attempt self-surgery due to the lack of proper care.The prison employs a Transgender Service Coordinator who had limited knowledge about transgender issues. Internal training documents refer to international standards but are often ignored.

Sofia's Story

Since July 2020, when a mental health care provider documented Sofia's gender dysphoria, the prison system has known about her serious medical need. Yet, for over four years, SCDC has cruelly denied her care, violating her 8th Amendment rights.Prison officials recognize that Sofia legally changed her name to Sofia in 2021, but they still misgender her and force her to wear a badge with her former name. Staff have heard her describe "persistent thoughts of death" due to her gender dysphoria. She even attempted auto-castration. In January 2023, the U.S. District Court ordered SCDC to evaluate her need for hormone therapy, but the chosen psychiatrist had no experience in initiating hormone therapy and ignored WPATH Standards of Care. The psychiatrist claimed there was "no evidence of distress" despite Sofia's statements and medical records.

The Broader Struggle

In recent months, Sofia has had daily thoughts of suicide. She struggles to sleep and concentrate on simple activities. Her joy in teaching fellow inmates and playing games has been overshadowed by the distress she feels about her body.During her long fight for healthcare, SCDC has offered different rationales for denying her care. First, it was based on a budget proviso interpretation. After the court rejected that, SCDC then claimed she didn't have gender dysphoria despite documentation to the contrary.SCDC's refusal to treat Sofia's medical condition is alarming. It violates the 8th Amendment and 14th Amendment. To learn more, visit the case page for Cano v. South Carolina Department of Corrections, read the blog post on her personal journey, and see the ACLU-SC v. Stirling case for the right to publish her story.

Redesign Health, a prominent name in the healthcare industry, has made a significant announcement. With a new $175 million fund, they aim to launch innovative healthcare companies from their venture builder. This fund stands as their largest to date and is expected to support more than 20 startups.

Redesign Health's $175M Fund - A Catalyst for Healthcare Innovation

Founding and Background

Redesign Health was founded in 2018 by CEO Brett Shaheen. He started his career as an investor at Goldman Sachs and later moved on to be a private equity investor at Carlyle and a hedge fund manager at Lone Pine Capital. It was during his time at dental company Candid in 2017 that he became interested in healthcare venture funding. This diverse background has equipped him with the necessary expertise to lead Redesign Health.The healthcare venture builder has incubated over 60 companies, including Scriptology, UpLift, Vivid Health, and Baton. These companies have been nurtured and developed within the Redesign Health ecosystem, laying the foundation for future growth.

New Fund Details

The new fund contains $25 million more than its previous one, which was raised in 2021. With a substantial amount of capital at hand, Redesign Health is well-positioned to support a significant number of startups. Neil Patel, the head of ventures at Redesign, stated in an interview with Fierce Healthcare that the fund is expected to last for several years. This long-term commitment allows for a more stable and sustainable approach to healthcare venture building.The new fund has received backing from Declaration Partners, Euclidean Capital, and True North Advisors. This diverse group of investors shows the confidence they have in Redesign Health's vision and capabilities.

Value Proposition and Mentorship

Redesign Health prides itself on providing hands-on mentorship to the startups it supports. As CEO Patel mentioned, they position themselves as the premier platform for healthcare founders or those considering entering the healthcare space. By leveraging their research on specific pain points, relationships with healthcare stakeholders and incumbents developed over the years, they aim to accelerate the startups' ability and improve their odds of building a sustainable and potentially world-changing company.This mentorship goes beyond just financial support. It includes guidance on various aspects such as business strategy, market positioning, and technological innovation. The startups benefit from the collective wisdom and experience of Redesign Health's team.

Investing Themes and Technology Focus

Redesign Health has eight investing themes that guide their support across all ventures. These themes address crucial aspects of the healthcare industry, such as the healthcare labor shortage, accelerating value-based and longitudinal care, advancing healthcare interoperability, preparing for an aging population, eliminating barriers to health equity, expanding sites of care, growing the insured population, and driving healthcare personalization and consumerization.In addition to these themes, the company also looks for startups that effectively utilize technology and how it intersects with their investing themes. Technology plays a crucial role in driving innovation in healthcare, and Redesign Health recognizes its potential.

Investor Confidence and Market Outlook

Patel believes that the fundraise is an indication of investors' continued interest in the $4 trillion healthcare industry. Despite the challenges, there are still tremendous opportunities for innovation. As he stated, "There's a lot of wood to chop here; there's a lot of problems to solve... it's a large healthcare market." This confidence in the market drives Redesign Health's efforts to support startups and drive change.By addressing the various pain points and leveraging technology, Redesign Health is committed to making a significant impact on the healthcare industry. Their new fund and comprehensive approach offer hope for a more innovative and efficient healthcare future.

The apartments in Berlin are set to be delivered by the end of 2026. This significant development is being led by Bonava, the city's residential developer. Credit: Maksim Safaniuk via Shutterstock.Bonava has announced the sale and commencement of construction on these 128 subsidised rental apartments for the public company Gesobau. This marks a crucial step in meeting Berlin's housing needs as the city requires 20,000 new homes annually.Sabine Helterhoff, the president of the Bonava Germany Business Unit, expressed excitement about starting construction on this new neighbourhood in the eastern parts of Berlin. "Here we are now selling and starting a rental project, but over time we will also build homes for consumers," she said.The 128 apartments are part of the first phase of the 'Cecilien-Carré' residential neighbourhood, which is being developed along Hellersdorfer Strasse in the Hellersdorf district.Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research and gain a competitive edge. View profiles in store.Company Profile – free sample. Your download email will arrive shortly.We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form. By GlobalData.Tick here to opt out of curated industry news, reports, and event updates from World Construction Network.I consent to GlobalData UK Limited collecting my details provided via this form in accordance with the privacy policy.Submit and download. Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.All apartments will adhere to the Berlin state housing subsidy scheme guidelines. The neighbourhood will span over 10,000m² and is planned to include a total of 272 homes with mixed tenures. By mid-2028, the area will feature eight apartment buildings arranged around a communal courtyard.In recent developments, Bonava began production of an additional 150 housing units across the Baltics and Sweden, as well as a project comprising 99 rental state-subsidised apartments in Turku, Finland. The completion of the housing units in Finland is anticipated in the first quarter of 2026. Prior to this, the company initiated the Seminariet housing project's first phase in Luthagen, near central Uppsala, Sweden. This project is set to deliver its first 66 new homes to customers by the second half of 2026.