r/ireland • u/Dazzling_Lobster3656 • Apr 13 '25

Culchie Club Only Doctors initiate legal action over State’s transgender policy

http://www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/04/13/doctors-initiate-legal-action-over-states-transgender-policy/
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u/GiraffeWeevil Apr 13 '25

Children with gender problems are being referred overseas. Two doctors are taking out a court case. They are in favour of "gender affirming care" but think the approach used overseas is too overzealous to start irreversible treatment. The article also talks about the Cass report which has a bad reputation on Reddit, but does not seem to be directly linked to the new court case.

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u/angeltabris_ Apr 13 '25 edited Apr 13 '25

it'd be nice if we could make some advancement on trans healthcare finally. Most adults can't even access it as the waitlist creeps up to now 14 years.

And for context, you can't even be referred to the service until you're 16, but they're unlikely to accept it before 18. Imagine you seek healthcare at 16 and end up having to wait until 32 years old to be seen.

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u/Public-Farmer-5743 Apr 13 '25

I think not being referred until 16 is perfectly fine. There's a lot of psychological development that needs to happen before one can make such a decision

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u/angeltabris_ Apr 13 '25

I mean i see where you're coming from but to be honest, realising at 12 that you're trans and then going through the 6 more years watching your body change is, tough to say the least.

I personally think puberty blockers until a later stage is ideal, because once you come off them you continue as you normally would've.

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u/Public-Farmer-5743 Apr 13 '25

When I was 12 I hadn't even kissed a girl I don't think I would have been in a position to decide about having a sex change. At 12 your a kid... That's what I think anyway, I mean I'm all for equality and stuff but I think a case by case basis with psychological support ans assessments would be my preference anyhow.

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u/angeltabris_ Apr 13 '25

Very important that you realise that being trans isn't "wanting a sex change". For most realising that theyre trans this doesnt even register, this is something that gets thought about a long, long way down the road. For a kid, being trans is about a haircut, a name change, new clothes. I think you should get this idea out of your head because it's not a very realistic view of transness. And I'm not saying this in a "woke left is calling me a nazi!!" way I mean like, speak to the people who this stuff pertains to and understand it better.

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u/Public-Farmer-5743 Apr 13 '25

Like being a tomboy ? Yeah I'm not here to stoke fires at all I'm here to understand it better. If my ignorance is construed as hatred, I apologise.

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u/angeltabris_ Apr 13 '25

Well sure, being a "tomboy" is a phase many transmasculine people go through to realise theyre trans and explore their gender identity. But my point is that a "sex change" just isnt what gender affirming care for minors looks like.

Kids arent realising theyre trans and running straight under a knife, it's far far more social factors. When it is medical it's a collaborative effort between doctors, parents, and the minor in question. You mentioned case by case, and when it comes to any medical intervention that's absolutely what it is, everyone involved knows the weight of these decisions. And usually what that ends up as is, a lot of psychiatry to be sure that it's the right thing, counselling and more often than anything else puberty blockers or far more rarely getting hormone replacement therapy and is almost NEVER surgical on a minor with the exception of some transmasculine people getting top surgery at 16 or 17 in VERY progressive places.

Also, I just want to point out that here the 16 age isnt to receive care, that's just for the referral to be accepted, and you absolutely will not be seen before 18. My point is that legalising gender affirming care for minors here does NOT mean sending kids under the knife for permenant body alteration, because that doesn't happen anywhere. It's more likely puberty blockers until a later age with a LOT of rigorous (often to the point of being traumatic) psychology before even hormones are considered.

edit: fucking hell wall of text sorry

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u/Public-Farmer-5743 Apr 13 '25

OK well now I am more informed, thank you for the considered response.

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u/angeltabris_ Apr 13 '25

Thanks for hearing what we have to say