David Reimer

Canadian boy raised as girl following botched surgery (1965–2004)

David Reimer (born Bruce Peter Reimer; 22 August 1965 – 4 May 2004) was a Canadian man who was born male but raised as a girl following medical advice and after his penis was badly injured during a circumcision gone wrong in infancy.[1] He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Reimer's parents were told to raise him as a girl by Dr John Money. He displayed a lot of masculine behavior, including urinating while standing up over the toilet.[1] Reimer realized that he was not a girl between the ages of 9 and 11 years.[2]

He reverted to living as a male at age 15. His surgery gone wrong has been used as an example of what not to do and became known as the "John/Joan" case.[3] Reimer later went public with his story to help people not go through similar medical practices.[1]

Reimer, who was suffering from depression, killed himself on 4 May 2004 in Winnipeg after shooting himself outside a grocery store, aged 38.[3]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Colapinto, John (2000). As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-227831-9.
  2. Diamond & Sigmundson 1997.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "David Reimer, 38, Subject of the John/Joan Case". The New York Times. The Canadian Press. 12 May 2004. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.