Courts Agree: Children Cannot Consent To Transgender Procedures

In the United States, the subject of transgender children is — understandably — a catalyst for intense debate. Across the world as well, countries are experiencing political and cultural battles of their own when it comes to policies surrounding transgenderism. Most recently, three High Court judges in the United Kingdom ruled that “children under 16 with gender dysphoria are unlikely to be able to give informed consent to undergo treatment with puberty-blocking drugs.”

One of the claimants, 23 year-old Keira Bell, was referred to the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust at the age of 16, and “after three one-hour appointments” was prescribed puberty blockers, and later testosterone. At the age of 20, she had a double mastectomy. Last year, however, Bell decided to begin de-transitioning, saying that “it was heartbreaking to realize I’d gone down the wrong path.” Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Bell celebrated the ruling, saying that it was “about protecting vulnerable children.”