consent for medical treatment of trans youth Access to medical treatment for trans youth occupies a haphazard and dynamic legal landscape. In this comprehensive scholarly analysis of the historical and current legal principles, Steph Jowett examines the medico-legal nexus of regulation of this health- care in Australia and in England and Wales. This is informed by an in-depth discussion of the medical literature on treatment for trans youth, including clinical guidelines, the outcomes of treatment and outcomes for trans youth who are unable to be treated. With illustrative examples and clear language, Jowett argues that legal barriers to clinical practice should be congruent with and reflect the current state of medical knowledge. Not only does Jowett assess the extent to which key legal decisions have been consistent with medical knowledge in the past, but she offers a nuanced, comparative perspective that will inform reform efforts in the future. steph jowett is a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology and a member of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research. Her research focuses on the intersection of children’s health and law. She was made a fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2020. CAMBRIDGE BIOETHICS AND LAW This series of books – formerly called Cambridge Law, Medicine and Ethics – was founded by Cambridge University Press with Alexander McCall Smith as its first editor in 2003. It focuses on the law’s complex and troubled relationship with medicine across both the developed and the developing world. In the past twenty years, we have seen in many countries increasing resort to the courts by dissatisfied patients and a growing use of the courts to attempt to resolve intractable ethical dilemmas. At the same time, legislatures across the world have struggled to address the questions posed by both the successes and the failures of modern medicine, while international organisations such as the WHO and UNESCO now regularly address issues of medical law. It follows that we would expect ethical and policy questions to be integral to the analysis of the legal issues discussed in this series. The series responds to the high profile of medical law in universities, in legal and medical practice, as well as in public and political affairs. We seek to reflect the evidence that many major health-related policy and bioethics debates in the UK, Europe and the international community over the past two decades have involved a strong medical law dimension. With that in mind, we seek to address how legal analysis might have a trans-jurisdictional and international relevance. Organ retention, embryonic stem cell research, physician-assisted suicide and the allocation of resources to fund health care are but a few examples among many. The emphasis of this series is thus on matters of public concern and/or practical significance. We look for books that could make a difference to the development of medical law and enhance the role of medico-legal debate in policy circles. That is not to say that we lack interest in the important theoretical dimensions of the subject, but we aim to ensure that theo- retical debate is grounded in the realities of how the law does and should interact with medicine and health care. Series Editors Professor Graeme Laurie, University of Edinburgh Professor Richard Ashcroft, City, University of London Consent for Medical Treatment of Trans Youth STEPH JOWETT Queensland University of Technology University Printing House, Cambridge cb2 8bs, United Kingdom One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, ny 10006, usa 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, vic 3207, Australia 314–321, 3rd Floor, Plot 3, Splendor Forum, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi – 110025, India 103 Penang Road, #05–06/07, Visioncrest Commercial, Singapore 238467 Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781316514207 doi: 10.1017/9781009082761 © Steph Jowett 2022 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2022 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. isbn 978-1-316-51420-7 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Contents Acknowledgements page vii Table of Cases ix Table of Statutes xiii 1 Introduction 1 2 Gender Diversity in Children and Adolescents 12 3 Medical Treatment for Trans Youth 44 4 Australian Law Governing Consent to Medical Treatment for Trans Youth 81 5 Law Governing Consent to Medical Treatment for Trans Youth in England and Wales 132 6 Comparison of the Law in England and Wales with Australia 160 7 Congruence of the Law with Medicine 169 8 Future Directions for Law Reform 202 Index 209 v Acknowledgements This book would not have been possible without the support of my doctoral super- visors, ‘Captain’ Professor Ben Mathews and Associate Professor Shih-Ning Then, who were as generous with their feedback as they were with their pep talks. I am also indebted to Sinead Prince for her incisive feedback and research assistance. Lastly, but most importantly, to my wonderful husband Jeremy, I’m endlessly grateful for your daily support and encouragement. vii Table of Cases australia Attorney-General (Cth) v Kevin and Jennifer (2003) 30 Fam LR 1 93, 170 Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service v Q [2016] QSC 89 88 Director General, Department of Community Services and Another; Re Thomas (2009) 41 Fam LR 220 88, 127 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd 230 CLR 89 109 In Re A (1993) 16 Fam LR 715 88 In the Marriage of GWW v CMW (1997) 21 Fam LR 612 87, 88, 93 L v B (2004) 32 Fam LR 169 88 Mains v Redden (2011) 46 Fam LR 400 88 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v B (2004) 219 CLR 365 90 P v P (1994) 181 CLR 583 113 Re a Declaration Regarding Medical Treatment for “A” [2020] QSC 389 118–119, 126 Re: Alex (2009) 42 Fam LR 645 94–95 Re: Alex (Hormonal Treatment for Gender Dysphoria) (2004) 31 Fam LR 503 91–104, 109, 123–125, 128, 130, 164, 169–177, 180–189, 193–196, 199 Re: Ashley [2015] FamCA 373 90 Re: Baby A [2008] FamCA 417 88 Re Baby D (No 2) (2011) 5 Fam LR 313 87, 88, 90 Re: Bernadette (Special Medical Procedure) (2010) 43 Fam LR 467 95–97, 189–191, 197 Re: Bobbie [2017] FamCA 974 105 Re: Brodie (Special Medical Procedures) [2008] FamCA 334 127 Re: Carla (Medical Procedure) [2016] FamCA 7 88 Re: Chloe [2018] FamCA 1006 115 Re: Eddie (No 2) [2017] FamCA 1001 114 Re: Elliott [2017] FamCA 1008 125 Re: G2 [2021] FCWA 98 119–120, 125 Re: Helen [2010] NSWSC 1560 88 Re: Imogen (No 6) [2020] FamCA 761 8, 117–129, 164, 166–167, 203, 206 Re Inaya (Special Medical Procedure) (2007) 38 Fam LR 546 88 ix