David Reimer

David Reimer received a botched circumcision from Dr. John Money, after which he advised the parents to raise him as a girl, Brenda, as a way to prove that gender identity is determined socially rather than biologically. In his childhood, David had received many therapy sessions to reinforce his female identity. By his teenage years, David rejected his female identity and chose to live as a male. He died from suicide in 2004. This study caused Reimer to face severe psychological distress, which eventually led to his death. A significant ethical concern raised from this experiment was the right to withdraw at any point in the study.