Parents sue SC, hospital over child’s sex surgery

Parents sue SC, hospital over child’s sex surgery

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A couple is suing the state of South Carolina for what they say was unnecessary sexual assignment surgery on a toddler they adopted.

Lawyers for Pam and Mark Crawford said today they are suing the Department of Social Services for having irreversible surgery performed on a 16-month-old child they eventually adopted and raised as a girl.

The Crawfords knew their child had been born with ambiguous genitalia and raised the child as a girl.

About a year ago, the Crawfords say their 8-year-old child told them he wanted to be raised as a boy. The couple says they don’t want other families to have to endure the struggles they have.

Spokeswomen for DSS and the Medical University of South Carolina did not immediately return messages seeking comment.