How Should Clinicians Navigate Decision Making About Genital Reconstructive Surgeries Among Intersex and Transgender Populations?

Abstract

Genital reconstructive surgeries (GRS) are available for a variety of indications and populations, including transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals and those with intersex traits/differences in sex development (I/dsd). Despite the common outcomes of GRS for TGD and I/dsd individuals, decision making about this surgical care differs between these populations and across the lifespan. Sociocultural perspectives on sexuality and gender dominate the ethics of GRS, and reform is needed within clinical ethics to center the autonomy of TGD and I/dsd individuals in informed consent processes. Such changes are necessary to ensure justice in health care for all sex and gender diverse individuals across the lifespan.

Steering into the Curves: Using Diagnosis to Support the Dignity and Autonomy of Trans Youth

“…The recent bioethics literature is rich with relevant discussions. 2 Here we call attention to several contextual and ethical considerations that we believe are necessary for a “liberatory praxis of health care for trans youth.”…”