Portland, Oregon – Camille Keifel, a detransitioner, has reportedly been awarded a $3.5 million confidential settlement in her malpractice lawsuit against two Oregon mental health providers. The settlement was reached last month, just days before the case was slated to go to trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Keifel, 36, alleged that the therapists negligently approved her for a double mastectomy in 2020 after only two telehealth sessions, despite her documented history of mental health conditions.
The lawsuit named licensed clinical social worker Amy Ruff and licensed professional counselor Mara Burmeister, along with their respective employers, Brave Space and Quest Center for Integrative Health. Keifel's complaint asserted claims of professional malpractice, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraud. She contended that she was not given true informed consent for the irreversible procedure.
According to reports, Keifel had a history of mental health diagnoses, including trauma, depression, suicidal ideation, and ADHD. She underwent the double mastectomy in August 2020 after receiving referral letters from Ruff and Burmeister. Keifel later detransitioned less than two years after the surgery, stating it did not resolve her gender distress and left her with lasting physical and emotional complications.
The increased use of telehealth for gender-affirming care became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as medical institutions rapidly adapted to virtual health care visits. While Oregon law protects gender-affirming care and the Oregon Health Plan covers medically necessary treatments, standard guidelines typically require comprehensive mental health assessments and letters of support for such procedures. Keifel's case highlights concerns regarding the adequacy of evaluations conducted via brief telemedicine sessions for significant medical interventions.
Keifel expressed her motivation for the lawsuit, stating, "I didn't want what happened to me to happen to other vulnerable girls and women." She believes that litigation is a powerful tool to influence gender medicine, particularly concerning informed consent and screening processes. This settlement follows another recent case where detransitioner Fox Varian won a $2 million lawsuit against providers.
