Controversial Therapy for Pre-Teen Transgender Patient Raises Questions

This really does raise some difficult ethical questions.

1. I am going to be mercilessly flamed for this but having gender reassignment surgery and taking hormones does not change your gender in my opinion. Born a boy, you're still a boy, even if the best part of manhood is gone.

2. Do we really want to let a child this young make this decision? I wanted to do some REAL stupid crap when I was that age; I thought a tattoo of G.I. Joe would be cool as hell.

3. Is this something he could perhaps grow out of when puberty hit?

4. Has there been any male influence? I do worry he may think it's unnatural to have a penis or be a boy if his only role models were both women. I'm not knocking gay parents having kids, it's just a question that comes up.

5. What difference does it even make if he avoids puberty? Are they going to perform surgery at 16 or something? I know the hormones take awhile but I don't think a child, or his parents, should be allowed to make this decision until the child is 18.

6. Where does this end?

Whatever happened to being a kid? Many gay people say they knew when they were very young, but I think that's a whole different ball game ( ) personally.

I would prefer such decisions to be made not by the child or parents, but mainly by a team of relevant medical professionals.

I also believe the correct course of action is to let the child develop naturaly until adolescence and then let him/her decide.

reply to post by Violater1


Wow, jumping to conclusions much are we?

Straight, crooked or bent, the ideations that have perverted this child are immoral.

Again, blaming the parents with little to no information of the circumstances. Keeping it classy are we?

Your kidding right. You really believe that a child can make a rational, informed, decision? This is no different than allowing a child to smoke, drink alcohol, or handle firearms. But then, maybe your OK with that as well?

Don't cherry pick the quote. I said it was the kid's choice, once he was old enough to make that decision for himself.

you feel so noncommittal to allowing this type of child abuse, why comment at all?

I'd love to hear why you think it's child abuse, but I'm sure you'll have some arbitrary and personal opinion as to what that is, so it would be a moot point would it not?

Just out of curiosity do you not think that if they were "indoctrinating" this child that somebody would have taken notice? Perhaps called social services and had them make a quick stop in to make sure everything was ok?

Do you think that doctors prescribe this treatment lightly? What you think they broke into the clinic and stole the meds?

Either way, I don't think it's right to do so at 11 years old, but he's not my kid, not my choice. And again I don't have enough information to make that decision, and neither do you.

It's really easy to sit here and judge somebody with little to no detail.

~Keeper

Originally posted by n00bUK
I'll give you a star, but people will just bash this thread, i can see where this is going.

I agree that this thread might stir the emotions of a lot of people and we will see a divide in thinking. If nothing else, I look to gain insight into the thinking of the supporters, as I cannot see how the child wins in this situation.

reply to post by tothetenthpower

Just out of curiosity do you not think that if they were "indoctrinating" this child that somebody would have taken notice? Perhaps called social services and had them make a quick stop in to make sure everything was ok?

I know that wasn't directed at me but I have to say not in this day and age.