News
AMA (WA) statement on gender transition for young people
Tuesday April 23, 2024
A Western Australian Liberal Government would ban the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments and surgical intervention for children under the age of 16 for the purpose of gender transition, it was announced on 22 April 2024 in a statement by State Liberal Leader Libby Mettam.
AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Page provides the following comments regarding medical services for young people for the purposes of gender transition:
“The care of gender-diverse young people in Western Australia is delivered by highly qualified expert paediatricians, paediatric endocrinologists, and child and adolescent psychiatrists who deliver quality care for each patient as an individual. These expert clinicians work in a multi-disciplinary team setting, using a family-centred model of care.
The Gender Diversity Service at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) recently published important research demonstrating very low rates of reidentification with birth sex (sometimes called “detransition” or “retransition”). Only 1% of those initiated on puberty blockers or hormones later reidentified with their sex assigned at birth. This accords with findings internationally, indicating that in the right supportive setting with appropriate family and medical support this treatment is safe, and supports the quality care delivered at PCH.
Ongoing research funding, as in every area of medicine, would be welcomed by specialists working in this field to further enhance care. This research is already ongoing, and further funding must not be politicised. The recent Cass Review from the United Kingdom contains few conclusions that are valid or applicable in the Australian setting. Many of its recommendations are already the current standard of care in WA.
We know that transgender and gender-diverse people experience high rates of discrimination, violence and barriers to accessing healthcare. These would be worthy of the attention of any current or future government. Seeking to reduce access to a highly specialised, responsibly provided type of care administered to a vulnerable patient group is not.”
