Debate on medical care for transgender youth
In the Netherlands, transgender children and youth have to go through an extensive diagnostic procedure in consultation with their parents in order to be socially, psychologically and medically supported. Puberty blockers can be used to give young people time to explore their gender identities, potentially followed by cross-sex hormone therapy. In recent years, there have been more and more debates on these medical interventions. At the request of the House of Representatives, the minister of Medical Care has asked the Health Council to produce a report on the safety and effectiveness of these treatments.
Independent and careful advice
The temporary committee seeks to map what is scientifically known about the physical and mental (long term) consequences of puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones. Moreover, the Dutch guidelines will be compared to international health standards and legislation. Das: “The Health Council is an independent advisory body that advises the government and parliament about issues of healthcare. I believe this independence is a great thing. It is important that policies are based on facts, especially when they concern complex healthcare problems. They should not be based on opinions, but on a thorough measuring of all relevant knowledge.”
The broad expertise of Radboud University
Das is involved with the Diversity in Sex and Gender Platform, where experts of Radboud University and Radboudumc collaborate. “Members of the platform have long studied trans healthcare from different disciplinary perspectives, so we did not only look through a medical lens, but also through one of the humanities or social sciences. That broad perspective is unique to Radboud University. With this topic, it is not only important what doctors are actually doing, but also how society deals with a more fluid view of gender identity,” Das says. Through the appointment of Das, Radboud University offers a valuable contribution to careful and scientifically supported advice on trans healthcare for youth.