Critical Reasoning Assignment Help

Issue Review

Jaclyn Hagl

Chamberlain University

PHIL347: Critical Reasoning

Professor Micheli

March 22, 2022

Issue: Gender Dysphoria Treatment in the Youth Population

Aspect 1: Gender Affirmative Approach Pro: Murchison, G. (2016). Supporting & caring for transgender children. Human Rights Campaign. https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/SupportingCaringforTransChildren.pdf

The author an advocate for the gender affirmative approach which focuses on letting the child determine their gender expression. It’s flexible and offers different strategies for certain age groups and for the severity of their distress. He promotes the approach because when children aren’t affirmed, they are at significantly increased risk of depression, substance abuse and suicide attempts” (p. 17). When supported as a child they are as psychologically healthy as non-transgender adults.

Con: De Vries & Kettenis. (2012). Sapir, L. (2022). Clinical management of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents: the dutch approach. Journal of Homosexuality, 59. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2012.653300

A watchful waiting (delayed transition) method is preferred for the prepubertal children under the age of twelve according to the Amsterdam gender identity clinic. It’s recommended to observe how the gender dysphoria develops in the first stage of puberty. During treatment the dysphoria is not treated but the possible factors that play a role in it. Using an approach that “cares for every aspect of the adolescent´s psychosocial functioning and not only aims at eliminating the gender dysphoria, we try to provide the future young adult with the necessary resources for an optimal psychological development and a good quality of life” (p. 315). The rationale for this type of treatment is that most gender dysphoria in children will be eliminated by adolescence.

Aspect 2: Medication Therapy Pro: Kimberly, L., Folkers, K., Friesen, P., Sultan, D., Quinn, G., House, A., Parent, B., Konnoth, C., Janssen, A., Shah, L., Bluebond-Langer, R., & Salas-Humara, C. (2018). Ethical issues in gender affirming care for youth. American Academy of Pediatrics. 142,6. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/6/e20181537/37504/Ethical-Issues-in-Gender-Affirming-Care-for-Youth

Medication therapy allows this population to decide if surgical transition is for them, and the suppression of puberty has shown to decrease depression and anxiety. Pubertal blockades are prescribed to stop the development of secondary sex characteristics that transgender youth find don’t align with their gender. The GnRH analogs are irreversible once discontinued.

Con: Kimberly, L., Folkers, K., Friesen, P., Sultan, D., Quinn, G., House, A., Parent, B., Konnoth, C., Janssen, A., Shah, L., Bluebond-Langer, R., & Salas-Humara, C. (2018). Ethical issues in gender affirming care for youth. American Academy of Pediatrics. 142,6. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/6/e20181537/37504/Ethical-Issues-in-Gender-Affirming-Care-for-Youth

Arguments against medication therapy say the long-term effects of their use have not been adequately studied. Decreased bone density is associated taking the meds and puberty is a critical time of bone growth. The psychosocial dilemma exists due to the patient remaining prepubescent while their peers undergo natural puberty. Additionally, they may feel trapped in continuing treatment and gender transitioning.

Aspect 3: Gender Affirming Care Bans Pro: Romo, V. (2022). A third of trans youth are at risk of losing gender affirming care, study says. https://www.wcbe.org/npr-news/2022-03-21/a-third-of-trans-youth-are-at-risk-of-losing-gender-affirming-care-study-says

Bills have been enacted or are being considered in fifteen states that deny access to hormone therapy and puberty blockers to minors. Strategies to punish those who assist in caring for the minors for gender affirming care include penalties to the parents of minors, banning insurance companies from covering the care, and criminal or disciplinary actions against health care providers who provide care. The bills are meant to protect minors against child abuse and invasive and life life-changing medical procedures

Con: Harvard Law Review. (2022). Outlawing trans youth: state legislatures and the battle over gender-affirmative healthcare for minors. https:// harvardlawreview.org/2021/04/outlawing-trans-youth-state-legislatures-and-the-battle-over-gender-affirming-healthcare-for-minors/

Those against the proposed bans are built on false premises and unconstitutional. The proposed gender affirming care bans violate equal protection. They also violate the fourteenth amendment. The amendment guarantees due process and that is not granted to the parents of these minors with these bans in place. “Prohibiting parents from authorizing medically necessary treatment for their children when they believe this care is in their children’s best interests is just the kind of intrusive government conduct that parental due process rights guard against” (no page).

References

De Vries & Kettenis. (2012). Sapir, L. (2022). Clinical management of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents: the dutch approach. Journal of Homosexuality, 59. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2012.653300

Harvard Law Review. (2022). Outlawing trans youth: state legislatures and the battle over gender-affirmative healthcare for minors. https:// harvardlawreview.org/2021/04/outlawing-trans-youth-state-legislatures-and-the-battle-over-gender-affirming-healthcare-for-minors/

Kimberly, L., Folkers, K., Friesen, P., Sultan, D., Quinn, G., House, A., Parent, B., Konnoth, C., Janssen, A., Shah, L., Bluebond-Langer, R., & Salas-Humara, C. (2018). Ethical issues in gender affirming care for youth. American Academy of Pediatrics. 142,6. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/6/e20181537/37504/Ethical-Issues-in-Gender-Affirming-Care-for-Youth

Murchison, G. (2016). Supporting & caring for transgender children. Human Rights Campaign. https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/SupportingCaringforTransChildren.pdf

Romo, V. (2022). A third of trans youth are at risk of losing gender affirming care, study says. https://www.wcbe.org/npr-news/2022-03-21/a-third-of-trans-youth-are-at-risk-of-losing-gender-affirming-care-study-says