Tycoon Ends Legal Battle with NHS Over Surgery Refusal
A prominent transgender barrister and business tycoon has discontinued her legal action against the NHS, which she had initiated after claiming she was left in constant pain from a private gender confirmation procedure overseas. Samantha Kane, who calls herself Lady Carbisdale, alleged that doctors at University College London Hospital (UCLH) had originally refused to perform the surgery in the UK.
A Complex Medical History
Ms Kane, believed to be the only person in Britain to have changed genders three times, was born male. Her journey began in 1997 when she first had surgery to become Samantha. This was reversed in 2004 when she became Charles Kane. In 2017, she approached UCLH seeking a third operation but claims her request was refused. This led her to undergo a private procedure in Serbia in 2018, which she alleges was 'botched'.
The wealthy barrister, who purchased Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland for £1.2 million in 2022, claimed the NHS then compounded the problem by refusing further treatment after the Serbian operation allegedly left 'infected' surgical devices inside her body. Representing herself at a hearing last year, she stated that medics told her to return to Serbia for help, subjecting her to unnecessary pain for three years until UCLH finally agreed to provide treatment in 2021.
From Courtroom to Christmas Gifts
Ms Kane had planned to sue the hospital for £162,000, arguing that their actions constituted negligence, discrimination, and a breach of her human rights. However, the 65-year-old confirmed she has now dropped the case, stating there will be 'no further proceedings'.
She explained her decision, saying she was 'satisfied' the NHS had taken her concerns on board. 'I always said it was about patient safety and nothing else,' she told the Mail. 'They have assured me that things have improved for people like me and for patients everywhere.'
Her change of heart came after learning that UCLH was awarded £3 million in funding from the NIHR Central London Patient Safety centre for research on patient safety. Ms Kane has even written to the trust to offer her contribution to this research. In a remarkable gesture of reconciliation, she now intends to travel south on Christmas Day to deliver whisky and other Scottish gifts to staff and patients at University College London Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Despite discontinuing her case, Ms Kane confirmed she still suffers from chronic pain, though she describes it as 'manageable'. Meanwhile, she continues to pour millions of pounds into restoring Carbisdale Castle, fulfilling her dream of becoming a 'princess in her own fairytale'.
