Book review: Consent for Medical Treatment of Trans Youth

What do we know about trans identity other than how medicalised and politicised it has become? Steph Jowett seeks to debunk the myth that the law is fully conversant with the issues affecting trans youth. As the book demonstrates, even reliance on the prescient nature of medical knowledge does not guarantee that the current legal framework is sufficiently equipped to protect the rights of individuals within this group. Jowett establishes her position at the outset as a supporter of medical treatment for trans youth, describing legal obstacles to medical treatment as contributing to the denial of trans identity. In chapter two of the book, she takes us through the known research in this area and notes that there is a lack of longitudinal research studies that could provide consensus on the current debate about trans rights and whether those rights should be curtailed in any way. Although the book provides us with a useful navigation through the available data and research studies, no firm conclusions can be drawn about the longterm benefits of medical treatment. When reading this chapter, one begins to wonder whether it may be easier to reflect on what we do not know about the experiences and rights of trans youth or to assess what we cannot say with any certainty. For example: