When determining which ethical dilemma to research and reason, I decided that I wanted a topic that has very little structure. There is a severe lack of information pertaining to this query, but it is still a pervasive issue that influences the rights of numerous gender-queer minors. As it currently stands there is no government issued statement regarding the issue, for all intents and purposes, the law regards it as any other surgical procedure. This means that it not only requires the parent’s consent to issue the treatments, as well as the procedures likelihood, is determined by the physician. This controversial topic was first addressed by government officials in Oregon, where they established that surgeons could perform gender reassignment …show more content…
Gender reassignment surgery allows people of all ages to better express one of the essential parts of their identity, and for this reason, there is no restriction placed on adults. However, I believe that this limited interpretation fails to allow adolescents the proper opportunity to express their gender identity. Adolescents experience gender dysphoria the same as adults, thus the government should not be able to discount their desire because they are younger. There are legitimate concerns about the age of the adolescents requesting the surgery, but their right to express agency over their own body should not be disregarded in part because they are not 18. Additionally, the government allows adolescents to express agency over their body in a multitude of other ways, and if anything, expressing gender identity is arguably one of the most important things to have agency over. I find it hard for the government or the surgeon to prevent someone who is struggling with their gender identity, on the premise that they are not old and mature enough to give consent to the procedure. Due to how important gender reassignment surgery is to a person’s identity, there should be further considerations for the government to alter the medical age of consent. This surgery has the ability to change someone’s quality of life and for this reason, age should not be the only factor preventing the
“‘Abortion rights and reproductive justice is not a women’s issue,’ wrote Emmett Stoffer, one of many self-described transgender persons to blog on the topic. It is ‘a uterus owner’s issue.’ Mr. Stoffer was referring to the possibility that a woman who is taking hormones or undergoing surgery to become a man, or who does not identify as a woman, can still have a uterus, become pregnant and need an abortion.” (Elinor Burkett, “What Makes a Woman?”)
Overviewing our information, there is evidence of ethical wrongs and rights when considering sexual reassignment treatments for minors. Also, there are multiple options to choose from when transitioning and risks and gains that come with each. As we read from Dr. Kaufman and Dr. Beaver, the natural effects of puberty are irreversible while the effects of puberty blockers and hormones are reversible. Then from Dr. McHugh, gender dysphoria belongs in the family of similarly disordered assumptions about the body and should be treated in other ways than blockers, hormones, or
A transgender, 25 year old woman named Avery Edison travelling from London, England was detained at Pearson Airport by Canada Border Service Agency. According to her, the reason for her detention was due to an immigration issue involving her overstaying a previous student visa. Despite being identified as a female on her passport, Avery had male genitalia. Avery tweeted that she would be assessed by a nurse before being placed in a male or female cell. However, the fact that she had male genitalia resulted in her being sent to Maplehurst, Correctional Centre in Milton, Ontario which is a prison for males where Avery stayed for one night. In the article, it is stated that Avery had concerns regarding potential sex attacks towards her in the
The American Psychological Association states that they recognize that gender nonconformity itself is not a mental disorder and what makes it a disorder is the presence of significant distress associated with the condition. As we have learned in class, something becomes diagnosed if it interferes with the patient’s everyday life. Gender Dysphoria has to be present for 6 or more months in order to be diagnosed and there must be a “marked difference between the individuals expressed/experienced gender and the genders others would assign him or her (DSM-V, APA).” Gender Dysphoria was added to the DSM-V as an effort to remove some stigma associated with the diagnosis. Previously called “Gender Identity Disorder,” Gender Dysphoria is “intended to
For most people, the idea of Transgenders is new and complicated. Because the idea is so fresh, many adults struggle with how to address this topic to the children because they lack knowledge
“The federal government and almost every state recognize transgender people’s right to change their name and to have identification documents with the gender marker that matches their gender identity.” (Jami Kathleen Taylor, 2007) There are a lot of misconceptions on what the meaning of transgender is, some think that they only become the person whether it is male to female, or female to male after surgery. What people fail to realize is that every transgender person transitions in their own way.
Teenagers take extreme measures in order to “fix” themselves (by having Plastic surgery). Plastic Surgery is a surgical process used to repair deformities and glitches in a persons body. Nowadays, teenagers tend to have plastic surgeries to improve physical characteristics they feel are flawed and/or to fit in with peers, to look similar to others. In fact, it is only the pressure that has been put upon these minors that makes them want to look flawless or perfect in order to feel comfortable in their own skin and avoid any unwanted judgments. Most teenagers are not mature enough to clearly understand the problems and consequences that are accompanied with cosmetic surgery. Therefore, cosmetic surgery should not be allowed for minors.
Puberty is a difficult time for any child, but for transgender teens, it can be the difference between becoming who they want to be or remaining in the wrong body. In June of this year, PBS Frontline released a documentary, entitled Growing Up Trans, which chronicled the lives of eight transgender and nonbinary children, from the ages of 9 to 19, as they navigated through the process of transitioning to their prefered genders. Some of the kids took hormone blockers to slow down their puberty, others were going through puberty at the time and wanted to transition before it was complete, and one had already gone through puberty and was still taking hormones to transition. The controversy revolving around the documentary focused on whether or
All citizens have the unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but what happens when a citizen commits a heinous act such as murder? Should the pursuit of their happiness be granted even though they took the life of another? Are we as a society to take their feelings into consideration and grant them the right to live their life as they wish? A major issue within the United States is the healthcare programs for inmates. One of the largest disputes when it comes to medical treatments/surgeries within the penal system is the sexual reassignment of inmates with gender dysphoria. It is reported that as of 2007 there are 750 inmates that are requesting gender reassignment surgeries (Brotheim, 2013). If polled today, some would say that a gender reassignment surgery at the tax payer’s expense is a frivolous waste of money. Some might even become infuriated at the thought of a non-law abiding citizen, one that has been deemed by society as someone who should be removed from the general public, most definitely does not deserve to receive this surgery. The states should not be liable to conduct gender reassignment surgeries for inmates with gender dysphoria, because of cost, the uncertainty that of the curability of this disorder, safety of the incarcerated offender and the moral dilemma of punishment versus privilege.
Gibson, B., & Catlin, A.J. (2011). Care of the Child with the Desire to Change Gender-Part 1.
Another ethical debate could be the ability to give informed consent. It can be argued that a child cannot fully be aware of what is happening until they reach a certain age (in South Australia, the age of medical consent is 16 years old) and therefore they cannot express their full informed consent for medical procedures until the age of 16 (MIGA, 2011). In any medical procedure, the patient must be informed about any risks and possible complications that may arise during the procedure and must be able to understand these risks and possible
Most teenagers who go through a mental transformation have a difficult time coping due to the environment, and people around them. Transgender rights should be the same for every student no matter what gender they choose to express because it follows the law of discrimination, allows the student to feel welcomed, and decreases the mental damage that builds up. People claim that transgenders do not deserve rights because they choose to change something biological, but unless they are the law there is nothing that they can do. The law of discrimination protects most transgenders’ rights. Source B claims the Trump administration is trying to rid of transgender rights that Obama had placed.
Advocates of this issue believe that minors should have the right to be in charge of their medical decisions. Dr. Eric Kodish believes that decisions made by teenagers on the older side who are able to make a righteous decision should be carried out. “I think the ethics of modern American life suggest that if people have the capacity to make a decision, they should be free to refuse treatment” (Shute 1). Advocates of minors being able to make their own medical decisions believe that if the minor shows enough maturity understanding of their desired action, then it should be respected and carried out. Dr. Eric Kodish uses what he calls “The Rule of 7s” to determine when a child should be allowed to make the decision.
Gender reassignment is a very controversial topic. Does it really work, can surgery really change your gender? People will always tell you about all the things that go right with surgery, but does anyone truly pay attention to the significant problems that this surgery can cause? Gender reassignment surgery (GRS) is a surgical procedure by which a person’s physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that of the other sex. It is said that this surgery is used to treat gender identity disorder (GID), which describes the condition in which an individual identifies with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their assigned sex. Having surgery performed can cause both physical and mental tribulations. While death is an unlikely result of complications, things do go wrong, as with all surgeries there are risks. There are also major mental, physiological, social and emotional side effects. Surgery will not fix the underlying psychological problems that cause the request for surgery. Anyone considering surgery needs to proceed with caution, as it can result in irreversible damage.
In today’s society we as humans are aware and accepting of more identities than we ever have been before. Civil rights movements all over the world are advocating for everything from marriage equality, to laws protecting gender-queer people. However, it isn’t perfect. Just as there will always be racists and homophobes, there will always be people who say gender identity is a choice. Well, a study done earlier this year proves those people wrong.