cross-posted from: https://exploding-heads.com/post/94477

cross-posted from: https://exploding-heads.com/post/94475

The decision to halt the universal prescription of life-altering drugs is long overdue considering there was never any evidence that permanently manipulating a child’s body would remedy his or her mental struggles.

In recent years, pharmaceutical companies and bureaucracies began marketing a sterilizing chemical regime as a way to “pause” puberty for the growing number of kids who claim to struggle with gender dysphoria.

On the contrary, the increasing body of evidence shows that pumping kids full of neutering drugs causes irreversible harm, including sexual dysfunction and permanent infertility, a higher risk of cancer and cardiac events, impaired vocal cords, bone density issues, and transition regret.

  • ArtemZ@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 year ago
    1. Ethical concerns and uncertainty: Gender affirming care for children involves making irreversible decisions that can have long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences. While it is important to prioritize the well-being of children, there is ongoing debate within the medical community regarding the appropriate age at which such interventions should be considered and whether they are in the best interest of the child. Some medical professionals argue that children may lack the cognitive maturity to fully comprehend the implications of such interventions and that it is necessary to approach these matters cautiously.

    2. Lack of long-term research: The field of gender affirming care for children is relatively new, and there is a lack of comprehensive long-term research on the outcomes of these interventions. This means that the long-term effects, both positive and negative, of gender affirming care on children are still not fully understood. Without sufficient evidence-based data, it can be challenging to determine the best course of action and ensure that these interventions are truly beneficial and minimize harm.

    3. Exploration and self-identity: Childhood and adolescence are periods of self-exploration and identity development. Some argue that it is crucial to allow children the freedom to explore and question their gender identity without prematurely committing to medical interventions. Taking a more cautious approach and providing supportive counseling, therapy, and non-permanent interventions may allow for a more holistic exploration of identity, taking into account the child’s social, emotional, and psychological well-being.

    4. Ethical considerations of irreversible interventions: Gender affirming care for children often involves irreversible medical interventions such as hormone therapy or surgeries. It is essential to consider the potential impact on the child’s future well-being if they later question or regret the decision made during their youth. By waiting until the child reaches an age of greater maturity and self-awareness, they can make a more informed decision about their gender identity and weigh the potential consequences of irreversible interventions.

    5. Parental rights and autonomy: Decisions regarding a child’s gender affirming care should be primarily left to the parents, as they are responsible for the well-being of their children. It is important to respect the rights of parents to make decisions they believe are in the best interest of their child, as long as the child is not being subjected to harm or neglect. By allowing a diversity of perspectives and not imposing a single medical consensus, the autonomy and decision-making power of parents can be preserved.

    • S_Roman@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Gender affirming care for children involves making irreversible decisions that can have long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences.

      That’s very misleading:

      https://www.childrenshospital.org/programs/center-gender-surgery-program/eligibility-surgery

      The only such permanent physical change available is top surgery, only for 15 year olds and up, and only after the following qualifications:

      A letter from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner stating that you have “persistent, well documented, gender dysphoria” and specifying either the length of hormone therapy or why you are not taking hormone therapy.

      A letter from a mental health provider stating that you have the capacity to consent and that any significant mental health issues are being addressed

      Informed consent is a reasonable qualification for medical treatment for a something that is clearly a persistent health issue. And none of this is genital surgery.

      As for “permanent psychological and social” change, that’s a weird thing to take issue with given that any decision in your life could have such an effect. Go to the wrong school, choose the wrong job, wrong career, live in the wrong neighborhood, choose the wrong treatment/doctor for your cancer, thyroid issues, broken leg, cronic illness, etc, it all caries that risk. Life sucks and it has risk, it’s unreasonable to expect no risk for anything, especially when it comes to medical stuff.

      Lack of long-term research: The field of gender affirming care for children is relatively new, and there is a lack of comprehensive long-term research on the outcomes of these interventions.

      That’s a moot point because the research we do have already shows that GAC is the best option for the health of patients. Why is it the best? Because the alternative is suicide. People with gender dysphoria end up killing themselves when they don’t get treatment.

      Ethical considerations of irreversible interventions: Gender affirming care for children often involves irreversible medical interventions such as hormone therapy or surgeries

      You are exaggerating the permanency of the hormone stuff, it takes a constant source of medication for that stuff. These things aren’t overnight changes either. It takes a long while before anything like puberty blockers or HRT is even allowed, there has to be a long medical history of dysphoria prior to that. And I’ve already covered the misinformation about surgeries above.

      Do you know what’s even more permanent than all these things combined? Suicide. If I had a Trans kid I would rather have them alive. That’s a bigger ethical consideration.

      Parental rights and autonomy: Decisions regarding a child’s gender affirming care should be primarily left to the parents, as they are responsible for the well-being of their children.

      This I can agree with, however:

      By allowing a diversity of perspectives and not imposing a single medical consensus

      This isn’t right. I would hope you wouldn’t say this about other things.

      “Gravity? We shouldn’t impose a single physicist consensus, we should allow a diversity of perspectives”

      Science is the best tool we have for learning objectively about things, including medical. It’s a bad move to value it at zero.