Research project Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Youth
– participation, decision-making and responsibility in an uncertain medico-legal landscape.
A PhD research project about the meaning and limits of the right to participation and medical influence of youth in the gender affirming healthcare in Sweden.
Supervisors:
Kavot Zillén, docent i offentlig rätt
Pernilla Leviner, professor i offentlig rätt
Project description
A fundamental starting point for Swedish healthcare is that it should be based on sufficient science and experience and built on respect for the autonomy of patients. For youth needing gender-affirming healthcare, however, there is substantial legal uncertainty of what this premise entails. Over the last few decades, the number of young patients in need of gender-affirming medical care has increased massively, bringing the health of young trans individuals to new light. The treatment protocols of gender-affirming healthcare have been subject to critical scrutiny by medical professionals and public welfare institutions. Against this background, and with regard to the stigma young lgbtq+ people often face, situations may occur where a young individual requests medical interventions and measures that the legal guardian oppose. Youth in need of gender-affirming healthcare, as patients and children, have a right to participation and self-determination. Still, they depend on the care and protection of their legal guardians as well as healthcare providers and practitioners. As a result, tension and conflict can occur between the child’s wishes, their legal guardians’ responsibility (and right) to make decisions regarding their children’s health and the healthcare’s obligation to provide the resources young trans people need for their well-being and development.
This PhD project departs from the medical uncertainty and challenges that exist in the gender-affirming healthcare in Sweden and analyses how they affect the legal meaning and limits of the right to participation and medical autonomy of youth.
Project members
Project managers
Denniz Sabo
Doktorand
