After the initial operation, Coralie had to undergo another surgery to fix a recto-vaginal fistula. This led to years of painful and traumatic treatments, causing Coralie to experience post-traumatic stress disorder. In November 2018, the Huderf was held responsible by the court, and the decision was upheld on appeal in February 2023.
Although errors and accidents are reportedly taken seriously, the hospital declined to comment on Coralie’s individual case. The decision to perform a non-essential and risky intervention without Coralie’s informed consent was deemed unnecessary by one of her lawyers, Véronique van der Plancke. In contrast, Malta bans any surgery on intersex minors, except for medically necessary operations.
A few days following the operation, Coralie had to be operated on once more because of a recto-vaginal fistula. Years of particularly painful and traumatic treatments will follow. Today, Coralie believes she still suffers from post-traumatic stress. On November 5, 2018, the court held the responsibility of the Huderf. Decision upheld on appeal, February 7, 2023.
In a brief statement, the hospital specifies that any error or accident is the subject of maximum attention to learn from it but refuses to communicate on an individual file. Of which act!
But was it necessary to “normalize” Coralie’s life by means of a risky, non-urgent intervention and without requiring her informed consent? The answer is clearly “no” for Véronique van der Plancke, one of the young woman’s lawyers. “In Malta, for example, except for medically necessary operations, there is a ban on any surgery on minor intersex children.“.
The heartbreaking story of Coralie highlights the importance of informed consent and the responsibility of medical professionals to prioritize the well-being and autonomy of their patients. While the court has held the hospital accountable for their actions, the trauma and pain that Coralie endured cannot be erased. Let us hope that this serves as a reminder for all medical practitioners to always prioritize their patients’ interests, above all else.