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Empowering Transgender Youth: A Path to Informed Consent

Empowering Transgender Youth: A Path to Informed Consent

Introduction

In the realm of pediatric healthcare, the intersection of ethics, legal rights, and decision-making capacity presents a complex landscape, particularly for transgender youth seeking hormone therapy. The study titled This Wasn’t a Split-Second Decision”: An Empirical Ethical Analysis of Transgender Youth Capacity, Rights, and Authority to Consent to Hormone Therapy offers critical insights into this issue, emphasizing the capacity of transgender youth to consent to hormone therapy and advocating for their rights within the informed consent model of care.

Understanding the Research

The research conducted by Clark and Virani (2021) in British Columbia, Canada, explores whether transgender youth possess the necessary capacity to consent to hormone therapy. Through qualitative content analysis of interviews with transgender youth, parents, and healthcare providers, the study found that many transgender youth demonstrate the understanding and abilities required for informed consent. This finding is crucial for practitioners, as it challenges traditional views on the maturity and decision-making capabilities of adolescents.

Key Findings

Implications for Practitioners

For practitioners working with transgender youth, this research underscores the importance of evaluating each individual's capacity to consent rather than relying on arbitrary age-based criteria. Practitioners are encouraged to adopt a more individualized approach, recognizing the unique insights and maturity that many transgender youth possess.

Furthermore, the informed consent model offers a framework that respects the autonomy of transgender youth, aligning with the ethical principles of beneficence and justice. By supporting this model, practitioners can facilitate access to necessary healthcare while minimizing potential harm and stigma associated with traditional mental health assessments.

Encouraging Further Research

While this study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research to explore the long-term outcomes of hormone therapy initiated during adolescence. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of evidence, which can inform policy changes and improve healthcare practices for transgender youth.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: This Wasn’t a Split-Second Decision”: An Empirical Ethical Analysis of Transgender Youth Capacity, Rights, and Authority to Consent to Hormone Therapy.


Citation: Clark, B. A., & Virani, A. (2021). This wasn’t a split-second decision”: An empirical ethical analysis of transgender youth capacity, rights, and authority to consent to hormone therapy. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-020-10086-9
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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