When care itself is controversial: Deafening silence surrounds gender-affirming care

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When care itself is controversial: Deafening silence surrounds gender-affirming care

28 August 2024

Phil Dashfield

Wednesday 28 August 2024, 12:30 AM

Is it enough to say to clinicians who don’t feel able to speak out on a clinical issue; trust the evidence? [Image: Benjavisa on iStock]

Specialist GP Phil Dashfield critiques the lack of open discussion around gender-affirming care and says the best way to manage gender dysphoria is far from established

The Medical Council provides guidance to doctors on a range of clinical practice topics, including medical ethics. The latter includes the responsibil

Gender Diversity

References

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Torkildsen Ø. Lessons to be learnt from the history of lobotomy. Tidsskriftet, 12 December 2022. https://tidsskriftet.no/en/2022/12/essay/lessons-be-learnt-history-lobotomy
Jorgensen SCJ, Athéa N, Masson C. Puberty suppression for pediatric gender dysphoria and the child's right to an open future. Arch Sex Behav 2024;53(5):1941–56.
Singh D, Bradley SJ, Zucker KJ. A follow-up study of boys with gender identity disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021;12:632784.
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Speak Up for Women Because Sex Matters. A letter from a therapist. 5 December 2023. https://www.speakupforwomen.nz/post/a-letter-from-a-therapist
Devlin H, Sample I. ‘This isn’t how good scientific debate happens’: academics on culture of fear in gender medicine research. The Guardian, 12 April 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/12/this-isnt-how-good-scientific-debate-happens-academics-on-culture-of-fear-in-gender-medicine-research
Tatchell P. Peter Tatchell: Twitter mob who vowed to kill me over transgender letter have it all wrong. International Business Times UK, 17 February 2015. https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/peter-tatchell-twitter-mob-who- vowed-kill-me-over-mary-beard-transgender-letter-have-it-all-wrong-1488351
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Paul C. A terrible trap. North & South, December 2023. https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/12/24/puberty-blockers-new-zealand/
Oliphant J, Veale J, Macdonald J, et al. Guidelines for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and adults in Aotearoa, New Zealand. 2018. https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/2051b399-ffd9-4826-8f20-dcdb895add83/content
Mondegreen E. WHO quietly announces controversial gender guidance. UnHerd, 28 December 2023. https://unherd.com/newsroom/who-quietly-publishes-controversial-gender-guidance/
Sex Matters. Who should develop guidelines on transgender healthcare? 30 January 2024. https://sex-matters.org/posts/healthcare/who-guidelines-on-transgender-healthcare/
The Economist. Legal action may change transgender care in America. 7 March 2023. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/03/07/legal-action-may-change-transgender-care-in-america

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