Court in Australia approves treatment for transgender teen amid parental dispute
Stuff co.nz 12 September 2020
Family First Comment: Disturbing…
“A 16-year-old transgender girl whose mother opposed her transition will be able to access gender-affirming hormone treatment following a landmark Australian Family Court ruling. Family Court Justice Garry Watts granted authorisation for the teen, given the pseudonym Imogen, to access oestrogen treatment to aid in her physical feminisation. Imogen’s father consented to the treatment but her mother did not. Imogen’s mother had disputed her competency to consent, diagnosis and treatment. But the activist judge said Imogen, “aged 16 years and 8 months”, had “expressed a consistent, persistent and insistent view that she wishes to move to … gender affirming hormone treatment”. She had felt she was female from the age of six or seven.”
Yes – 6 or 7! ☹
A 16-year-old transgender girl whose mother opposed her transition will be able to access gender-affirming hormone treatment following a landmark Australian Family Court ruling.
On Thursday Family Court Justice Garry Watts granted authorisation for the teen, given the pseudonym Imogen, to access oestrogen treatment to aid in her physical feminisation.
Imogen’s father consented to the treatment but her mother did not.
“We got the result last night and we had a bit of a cry,” Imogen’s father said on Friday, describing the decision as a relief.
He said the judge was “very fair” in hearing both sides and the court was focused on Imogen’s best interests.
Hormone treatment with oestrogen or testosterone is the second step in a three-stage medical transition process for transgender adolescents, and follows an initial round of puberty blockers. Surgical interventions may follow at stage three.
The law has evolved rapidly in Australia. Prior to 2013, it was not possible for a parent or child to give valid consent to any of the three stages and court approval was mandatory.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300105668/court-in-australia-approves-treatment-for-transgender-teen-amid-parental-dispute?cid=app-iPhone
