THEY SAY:
We are running a call for evidence and would like to hear from as many people and organisations as possible who have an interest in the care and treatment of children and adolescents in relation to their gender identity. The deadline is 14 May.
Quote from website
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body that examines and advises on ethical issues arising from developments in bioscience and health. We aim to inform policy and public debate through timely consideration of the ethical questions raised by biological and medical research so that the benefits to society are realised in a way that is consistent with public values.
In late 2019, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics held a series of exploratory meetings with people and representatives of people with experience of gender identity services, medical practitioners, academics, and researchers to understand the ethical challenges in thecare and treatment of young people in relation to their gender identity. This exploratory work raised a number of ethical issues about how gender diverse and gender incongruent children and adolescents under the age of 18 should be cared for, which we believe warrant more discussion and consideration.
The aim of this project is to carry out a more in-depth review of some of those issues. Our conclusions will inform practitioners and policy-makers and, ultimately, help improve the well-being of gender diverse and gender incongruent children and adolescents by ensuring they receive ethical, appropriate, and high-quality care. We hope that, as the UK’s independent ethics body, we can make a valuable contribution to how these issues are discussed and considered.
About this call for evidence
This call for evidence is an open call for views on some of the issues we want to explore in more detail, including:
the nature of gender dysphoria and how this affects approaches to care and treatment;the social context within which gender dysphoria exists;whether there is adequate evidence on the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to support treatment;current approaches to care and treatment, including the purpose of puberty blockers, the gender affirmative approach, and social transition;how to consider the benefits and harms of treatment and non-treatment in decision-making; andthe ability of children and adolescents to consent to medical interventions for gender dysphoria.
This call for evidence is not concerned with the wider gender identity debate as it relates to questions of self-identification, nor issues about the care and treatment of young adults/adults aged 18 and over. A review of the current provision of gender identity services for children and young people is the subject of a separate independent review commissioned by NHS England.
www.nuffieldbioethics.org/publications/the-care-and-treatment-of-children-and-adolescents-in-relation-to-their-gender-identity-in-the-uk/call-for-evidence