St James’s Hospital in Dublin has publicly apologized to a transgender woman for her treatment at the emergency department after she fell ill following gender reassignment surgery overseas.

Paige Behan attended the hospital and filed a complaint against the board of St James's Hospital, alleging discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. The hospital acknowledged a gap in care pathways for individuals in her situation and expressed regret over the distressing experience she faced.

The hospital management has also committed to meeting with a trans advocacy group to address concerns raised by the incident.

Ms. Behan's complaint, which was filed after seeking emergency treatment on August 16th, 2024, has now been resolved through an agreement.

Last year, Ms. Behan shared her ordeal with The Irish Times, recounting her struggle to receive treatment at St James’s Hospital after being referred by her GP for complications following her surgery in Germany. Despite her worsening condition, she was redirected to the National Maternity Hospital without proper communication between the facilities.

She expressed feeling humiliated and devastated by the lack of appropriate care, attributing it to the hospital staff's unfamiliarity with treating transgender patients.

During a hearing before adjudication officer David James Murphy, Ms. Behan's legal representatives confirmed that the matter had been resolved, with the hospital issuing a public statement acknowledging the shortcomings in care pathways for patients who have undergone gender-affirming surgery abroad.

The hospital expressed regret over the distress caused to Ms. Behan and committed to learning from the incident. They have agreed to meet with Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) to address concerns regarding care for patients returning from abroad after gender-affirming surgery.

Mr. Murphy commended the efforts of both parties in reaching an agreement and emphasized the importance of improving services for the benefit of all individuals involved.