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A Legal Assessment of the Dutch Protocol for Transgender Care to Children: Evidence, Ethics and Procedure

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A Legal Assessment of the Dutch Protocol for Transgender Care to Children: Evidence, Ethics and Procedure In the Netherlands, healthcare for children with gender dysphoria is provided based on the Dutch Protocol. Typically, medical protocols are guiding in the interpretation of the medical-professional standard. For a protocol to be guiding, it (i) must be evidence-based, (ii) should carry limited medical-ethical weight, and (iii) have been developed through an adequate process. This article disputes the first criterion as highly debatable and maintains that the second and third criteria fail to be satisfied. Consequently, the Dutch Protocol cannot be regarded as a legitimate guiding standard.

Source: Family & Law

DOI: 10.5553/fenr/.000069

Authors: Lodewijk Smeehuijzen, Jilles Smids, Coen Hoekstra

Language: English

Topic: Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409234543

FWCI: 1.402

Cites:

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10