The mother of a former patient at San Diego-based Rady Children's Hospital is suing the institution, alleging that hospital staff broke the law by addressing her 14-year-old transgender son as "her," according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
According to a lawsuit filed by Katharine Prescott, her son Kyler Prescott was extremely distressed after being treated as a female patient. His condition led Mr. Prescott's psychiatrist to request that he be released after only 24 hours during a 72-hour suicide hold at the hospital.
Mr. Prescott committed suicide roughly 41 days after his discharge from the hospital.
While the lawsuit does not claim the children's hospital is responsible for her son's death, Ms. Prescott claims the hospital misrepresented the capabilities and sensitivity promised by its gender management clinic, according to the article. Ms. Prescott seeks unspecified damages from the hospital.
Ms. Prescott said she requested the hospital staff refrain from referring to Mr. Prescott as a girl. She claims that instead of handling the complaint, the charge nurse blocked her phone number, according to the article.
A representative from Rady Children's Hospital said in a statement the hospital plans to investigate the situation, according to the article.