Conclusion
After my
research, I have come to the conclusion that sex assignment treatment should
not be performed on infants. I believe that sex assignment treatment should
only be performed on a person when they are mentally and physically capable of making
a decision and giving their consent. This is about where I stood in the
beginning of my research because I had already heard many people’s stories about
damaging treatment they received when they were infants. While I did know that
many intersex people were opposed to treating infants, I was surprised to see
how many people in the medical field are starting to take this opinion as well.
It’s nice to see that professionals are listening to those affected and working
towards collecting data around this topic. Something that I’m still
contemplating, because I don’t see it quite as straight forward, is whether sex
assignment surgery is genital mutilation. It’s easy for me to look at female
genital mutilation and acknowledge the clear ethical breach. I’m probably
having trouble viewing this surgery as mutilation because of cultural
acceptance and the trust I typically have of doctors. It’s easy to look at
traditional and generally accepted method of doing something without
questioning it, but that is exactly what we must do.
In the weeks
ahead, I will still be contemplating whether sex assignment surgery is genital
mutilation. This is a complex issue that will require more research for my
conclusion. One major issue with the argument that sex assignment treatment
should not be performed on infants is the lack of hard evidence that shows it
causes substantial mental harm (as physical harm is clear but case by case). While
this is true, and something that should be addressed immediately, the same
could be said about performing this treatment. Without hard evidence, this
damaging treatment plan was created for intersex infants. When professionals
don’t have all the information needed to make an informed decision on their
own, treatment should be postponed and the patient should decide what they want
to do when they are capable.
Thank you all so
much for reading and diving into this complex issue with me.
Great job on your blog. I agree with you that sex assignment treatment should not be performed on infants I think it something the child should have a say in when they are older. I am very happy that doctors are now starting to see it that way as well. Reminds me of a girl I knew when I was very young she was my oldest sisters friend she had the surgery as an infant but when she was older she felt more like a guy it was very hard for her as a teenager feeling like she was meant to be a guy but because of a surgery she was a girl. Your post has brought to light a lot about how it effects people who was not given the option themselves and its very sad that that choice was made for them. I understand that the parents may have thought they were helping in a way but in reality I don't think it should have been there choice I think only the person should be able to make that kind of decision. Thank you for your very interesting and enlightening post I truly enjoyed reading it from the beginning till now.
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