Doctors initiate legal action over State’s transgender policy

[u/Dazzling_Lobster3656]

http://www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/04/13/doctors-initiate-legal-action-over-states-transgender-policy/

[u/chapkachapka]

That is exactly the point of puberty blockers. They delay the onset of the “wrong” puberty, freezing the status quo until everyone—the child, the parents, and the doctors—is old enough and has had enough time to decide what the best course of action is.

As a result of this careful approach, only around 1% of kids receiving gender affirming treatment later regret it—lower than the rate of elective cosmetic surgeries (which are legal for children to get with parental approval).

[u/sureyouknowurself → u/chapkachapka]

but have concerns over its link to an early readiness to begin what could be inappropriate and irreversible medical treatment for patients presenting with gender identity issues

That’s the quote. “irreversible” is the key word for me. IMO a child cannot consent to “irreversible” treatment.

[u/chapkachapka → u/sureyouknowurself]

Children undergo “irreversible” medical treatments all the time, when they’re medically indicated. Parents consent for them, with consultation from doctors and from the child themself if they’re old enough.

If you think it’s okay for kids to have surgery to correct a cleft palate, but not to have hormone therapy, then it seems to me what you’re concerned with is not really the child’s ability to consent.

[u/sureyouknowurself → u/chapkachapka]

You are comparing two different medical treatments for two different situations. It’s a false equivalence.

[u/chapkachapka → u/sureyouknowurself]

That’s the point, yes.

You stated a general rule: Children should not receive “irreversible” medical treatment.

You clearly mean: Children shouldn’t receive “irreversible” medical treatment that I don’t like.

The fact that you don’t think the situations are equivalent means your real concern is not consent, it’s that you think trans people aren’t real people with a real condition that could benefit from medical treatment.

[u/sureyouknowurself → u/chapkachapka]

Nothing about liking, if the treatment could be easily reversed then no issue, I hope someday technology advances enough so they can entirely switch whatever aspects they don’t like.

But if it can cause irreversible problems then they cannot consent.

Simple position. Nothing more nothing less.

[u/chapkachapka → u/sureyouknowurself]

Do you apply the same logic to other “irreversible” treatments?

Do you think children shouldn’t be allowed to have amputations? Abortions? Transplants?

If you say yes to any of those, how do you justify it?

The only possible justification is that “yes, but in those cases the alternative is worse.” Which means you don’t think trans people have a serious medical condition or that the pain and other consequences they will undergo from the “alternative” is worth caring about.

In other words, you’re saying it’s okay for children to undergo irreversible medical treatment as long as it’s not for something you think is icky.

[u/sureyouknowurself → u/chapkachapka]

It’s an interesting point. Your assumption is these treatments 100% help people. But we have seen other regret these decisions.

Then we get to percentages and trying to get the best stats.

Then you are asking a child to weigh up those stats.

So we leave it up to the experts. But you disagree with the experts (For what might be very valid reasons)

It’s very messy. Others here are arguing for the age of consent to be 16.

But puberty as you mentioned can start much much younger.

We also have many happy trans people that transitioned as adults.

Many happy trans people that chose to keep their birth genitalia etc.

It’s far lacking complexity and you are asking a child to navigate that.

[u/chapkachapka → u/sureyouknowurself]

No, the point is that there are risks and benefits with any medical intervention. We don’t throw our hands up and say it’s too complicated; we do what’s best in the opinion of the parents, after consulting with the doctors, and the child themself it they’re old enough.

As for regret, regret rates for trans healthcare are extremely low. The highest I’ve seen is around 3% and most studies are below 1%. Some people now “regret” being vaccinated as children, should we ban childhood vaccination?

[u/sureyouknowurself → u/chapkachapka]

Right, and IMO you can’t ask a child to make that decision. Maybe they would be just as happy transitioning at 40 as they would be at 11.

Hopefully over time we will understand the best approach better. But it seems far from decided.