RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Flawed reasoning on two dilemmas: a commentary on Baron and Dierckxsens (2021)
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP medethics-2021-107647
DO 10.1136/medethics-2021-107647
A1 Florence Ashley
YR 2021
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2021/08/26/medethics-2021-107647.abstract
AB A recent paper by Teresa Baron and Geoffrey Dierckxsens (2021) argues that puberty blockers and hormone therapy should be disallowed before adulthood on prudential and consent-related grounds. This response contends that their argument fails because it is predicated on unsupported premises and misinterpretations of the available evidence. There is no evidence that a large proportion of pubertal and postpubertal youths later discontinue medical transition. Meaningful assent is a viable and commonly accepted alternative to meaningful consent in paediatric bioethics. And finally, the primary purpose of transition-related interventions is to actualise youths’ gendered self-image, not treat an underlying mental illness.