Tim Daniel
(ZENIT News / Washington, 09.22.2023).- In a recent report issued by the Catholic Medical Association of the United States, light has been shed on a growing concern in the field of medicine and mental health: gender reassignment surgery in minors. This detailed report has triggered a call for reflection on the direction that medical policies are taking regarding children experiencing gender dysphoria.
The association, based in Pennsylvania, has urged medical organizations to reconsider their stance on promoting gender change surgery for minors. The reason? They argue that there are «serious and lasting physical and psychological harms» that can affect these young people in adulthood.
One of the most striking aspects of the report is its reference to a follow-up study conducted in Sweden, which included 324 adults who had opted for gender transition. In comparison to a control group, the study participants showed a significantly higher mortality rate. This increase in mortality was largely due to an increase in deaths from cardiovascular diseases and suicides. Furthermore, there were more suicide attempts and stays in psychiatric units in this group.
These findings have ignited an ethical debate about the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors. The key question raised by the report is whether gender transition should be the first treatment option for these children and adolescents. Doctors argue that, from an ethical perspective, it cannot be justified to favor transition as the primary treatment option.
Gender dysphoria, as explained in the report, is a psychiatric disorder that must be treated carefully and collaboratively. Mental health professionals, in collaboration with loving parents, should play a central role in addressing this condition, providing necessary support, and evaluating all available treatment options.
Ultimately, this report sheds critical light on a complex and controversial issue in modern medicine. It raises important questions about the safety and effectiveness of gender reassignment surgery in minors and underscores the need for a more careful and thoughtful approach to treating gender dysphoria in childhood and adolescence. The medical community and society as a whole face the challenge of finding a balance between respecting each individual’s gender identity and ensuring their physical and mental well-being throughout their lives.
