doctors have backed research claiming trans children as young as seven can decide they want puberty blockers and hormone-warping drugs.
In an editorial led by Air Force colonel Dr David Klein, officials said minors ‘have an inherent ability and right to consent’ to the interventions that are often irreversible.
The piece cites a that claims more than 90 percent of over-sevens are mature enough to decide their gender identity and whether they want to start transitioning medically.
Their words come as the UK and several European countries restrict access to hormone drugs for trans children amid fears about the lack of long-term research.
In America, there are no federal age limited but several Republican states have banned under-18s from accessing them,.
The piece was led by Dr David Klein (left), who is a transgender care for minors cheerleader and USAF colonel.Dr Christina Roberts (nee Timothy), a pediatrician in Kansas (right), also contributed to the report
The piece cites a 2018 study by Dutch researchers that claims more than 90 percent of over-sevens are mature enough to decide their gender identity and whether they want to start transitioning medically
, the military doctors said: ‘Prior research has found that children can begin participating in their medical decision-making as early as age seven years with gradual increases in decision-making capacity.
‘Furthermore, military-affiliated adolescents who initiate gender-affirming hormones continue their medication at rates similar to or higher than those of adults.
‘[This reflects] a similar understanding and tolerance of the effects of hormonal therapy.’
The study at the center of these claims was in 2018.
In it, povmature.com data from 74 trans adolescents aged 10 to 18 was gathered.Using assessments of their general judgement, the researchers determined that between 89 to 93 percent of children in the age group are capable of making these types of choices.
The Department of Defense (DoD) report added: ‘Reasoning, rooted in empirical evidence and human rights, suggests that youths with decisional capacity…have an inherent ability and right to consent to gender-affirming care.’
In the report, the DoD officials write that the uncertainty of the availability of trans care for minors in the US can cause harm to some military families.
Pentagon leadership fears at home issues could harm the preparedness of US soldiers.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS health" data-version="2" id="mol-46a55e70-c99b-11ed-803f-6918b2bb483e" website aged seven should have access to puberty blockers, docs say
