Drop ‘dehumanizing’ mental health assessments for trans youth wanting body-altering hormone therapy, McGill bioethicist argues

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Activist Florence Ashley argues trans youth and adults wanting to modify their bodies shouldn’t be forced to undergo mental health assessments first

Doctors should stop insisting transgender teens undergo “dehumanizing” psychiatric assessments before granting them body-altering hormones, argues a new paper by a McGill University scholar.

“We generally trust what other people say about their own mental states,” wrote Ashley, a fellow of the McGill Research Group on Health and Law. “If someone says, ‘My arm hurts,’ we typically grant credence to their claims. “And the illness model is, ‘Well, we have to figure out what this illness is because there is this underlying ‘disease’ we have to cure.” The medical establishment, said Ashley has failed to keep up “with our evolving understanding of transitude — the fact of being trans — as part of normal human diversity.”

“Many others are not so lucky — and my own luck ran out when I had to seek two referral letters for genital surgery,” Ashley said. Cross-sex hormones can cause irreversible physical changes — breast development with estrogen, or a permanent deepening of the voice with testosterone, “For a very long time — and it’s still weirdly a thing that continues to happen today — you’ll have people that say, ‘Oh, I’m not really sure you are trans because you didn’t know you were trans when you were a kid,’ or horrendous stuff like, ‘You don’t wear enough dresses and, therefore, you’re probably not a woman.”

 

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Mental health screenings are the acknowledgement that every patient who seeks to transition, is more than a body with a $ attached to it. There should be MORE gate keeping. Risk assessment should be a part of such permanent solutions. It would be malpractice not to do so.

Following this thought to its logical conclusion, what's the justification for requiring ANY assessment before dispensing any drug to any person? Why not just offer testosterone, oxycodone, methylphenidate, alprazolam, lithium, etc. in the cafeteria line and vending machines?

There is absolutely no way any trust should be placed in the medical community on this issue. This field of study is far too corrupted to believe anything that modern, western science has to say on the subject.

Jesus... how many of these kids have parents afraid they’re gay/lesbian? Want to fix them? Hormones and surgery and voilà now everything lines up. Where are the studies on detransition after they realize it was a phase?

You did nothing to dissuade the argument that it is a mental health diagnosis that is required. The instability of the 'person' interviewed is proof. 'Gender euphoria' 😂🤣 would still be a mental disorder.

Not old enough to drink, fuck, hunt, vote, etc., but old enough to change sex. These poor kids are having their lives fucked over to let a few people with nothing at stake feel good about themselves.

Well then, we MUST stop talking sense! ONE SJW without accountability is the ruler. All hail, childless(?) academic(?) from Quebec!!!!!

I want mental assessment...kids r so easily brainwashed to any new fads...drugs,alcohol,and social media... If they're serious,then they would go thru it....it is life altering...changing thoughts and become unrecognisable thru transition.... And YES I have been a part of this

Woah...

In the future I hope doctors, therapists, teachers, politicians anyone who facilitates or encouraged this harmful affirmation-only course of treatment gets sued.

No. The hormone replacement is life altering. An experienced person should assess their mental health and future viability. If a young person takes it but commits suicide? Check their wellbeing.

This academic should be investigated for child abuse. Not only are they not a mental health professional they are supporting and encouraging the abuse of children.

They can always travel to Iran. They seem to be highly accommodating.

My son wants to be spiderman. Can you write me prescription for that?

Our 'so called' educated elite have educated themselves into imbecility.

No credible doctor should administer any drugs just on a patient’s say-so. Why should this be any different?

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