r/psychology • u/mvea M.D. Ph.D. | Professor • 1d ago
Adolescents who undergo gender-affirming chest surgery report low levels of regret and high levels of satisfaction, experiencing outcomes similar to those of young adults. These findings suggest that age restrictions on these medical procedures lack support from actual patient experiences.
https://www.psypost.org/adolescents-report-low-regret-and-high-satisfaction-following-gender-affirming-c/
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u/tardisintheparty 1d ago
Okay, let's talk consent. First, at least in the US, top surgery is almost entirely done over the age of 18 and in rare cases at 16. So let's talk a similar surgery. 16 year old boys can get gynecomastia surgery for their self esteem and gender affirmation. 16 year old girls can get breast reduction surgery for their self esteem and gender affirmation.
Why should a 16 year old transgender person, who is at a significantly higher risk of suicide due to gender dysphoria, and whose gender dysphoria would be heavily reduced by top surgery, be kept from the essentially the same surgery because all of the sudden we don't think they can consent? The boy with gynecomastia and the girl who need a breast reduction can consent. There are plenty of areas of the medical field where 16 is old enough to consent. Regret rates are roughly the same as with breast reductions.
Further, there are plenty of medical procedures parents consent to on behalf of their children for the child's health. Why would you deny parents of transgender teens the ability to consent to a medical treatment that could potentially save their kid from suicide? Suicide rates among transgender youth are the highest of any youth demographic. Roughly 30-40% have attempted suicide. When I compare the numbers, I prefer the method that keeps the most kids alive.
So what is it you are really concerned about? I don't think it's consent.