China man awaiting sex change operation sues hospital after he was given electric shocks

Liger said that he was forcibly hospitalised for 97 days and was given electroshock therapy for days. (Representational image: Unsplash)

A 27-year-old in China has sued a hospital for 80,000 yuan (about Rs 9.4 lakh) after he was forced to undergo electroshock therapy. The man, who was waiting for a gender reassignment surgery, said that he was forcibly hospitalised for 97 days and was given electric shocks for days.

Linger is a live-streamer from Hebei province in northern China, who posts videos of himself online wearing make-up and women’s clothing, South China Morning Post reported. He told Hongxing News that, although he was born male, he identifies as a woman. Linger also said that he had saved money for his surgery.

He began to take oestrogen (female sex hormone) and gradually, his facial hair became sparse and his voice softened. He even grew his hair long.

But Linger’s parents were not supportive of his decision. They could not accept their son’s transition, which led to arguments since traditionally, the Chinese believe that the body is a gift from one’s parents and that one's gender should not be changed. Therefore, a sex change operation is considered disrespectful to parents.

Linger told the media his parents had asked him to visit Jiulongshan Hospital in 2022. He wanted to avoid further conflict and agreed even though he knew it was a psychiatric hospital because he did not think he had any mental illness.

He did not, however, expect the doctor to diagnose him with an “anxiety disorder” and “ego-dystonic sexual orientation” -- a mental disorder that describes a conflict between a person’s desired and actual sexual orientation, SCMP reported.

Next, his phone was seized and he was forcibly hospitalised. “After being admitted to the hospital, I was tied to the bed with ropes, and many doctors controlled my body and administered electroshock therapy for days,” Linger said.

Now, he has filed a lawsuit against the hospital for human rights violations, seeking 80,000 yuan (about Rs 9.4 lakh) in compensation.