How old does a child need to be to take an irreversible, but arguably relatively minor, decision to have a tattoo, in UK? 18
Age to get female sterilisation? Probably going to get refused under 30 (www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/female-sterilisation/ )
You might change your mind is a commonly given reason...
Any body piercing of under 18 legally requires written permission from parent.
The idea that a depressed/ distressed young teen is in a position to make lifelong decisions about future fertility, and probable effect on future relationships , would be laughable- if it were not tragic.
I can understand that a loving parent might agree to almost anything, whilst in the throes of dealing with a suicidal teen. It's the most difficult situation I've ever lived through.
But even that level of teen and parent despair does not justify medical and surgical intervention which may well be the wrong thing to do.
Would the parents of teens with severe body dismorphia, who insisted they needed a limb amputated, be supported in this choice?
I would suggest it more likely that such a child would be taken into care.
Some children may persist, and transition may be the choice they make. As adults. That may make it harder for them to ' pass', and that's a shame.
But not enough of a shame to make the sacrifice of the majority, who would have resisted if kept off blockers and hormones, worthwhile.
No other major, life long treatment would be allowed for children to choose, not for a single second, if it was only going to benefit 10-20% of patients.
There's some insanity going on here.