First of all, puberty blockers require no surgery.
The benefit of the medical intervention should compare costs and benefits. Even for children we do many medical treatments that can’t be undone because the benefits seem to outweigh the possible negatives that come with it. For example, fixing a cleft lip has some pretty large consequences, particularly socially, and can’t be undone.
We also allow some things that have essentially no positive and don’t have the child’s consent, such as circumcision.
Medical decisions should be made by the patient, their doctor, and their parent and/or guardian if that applies. It should not be made by you. You can’t weigh the costs and benefits for them since you have no idea on every person’s circumstances. If they think the outcome will be better with the treatment then it should be their decision.
Removing choice is not something anyone should be in favor of doing. You would not find it acceptable for other people to tell you you can’t do things you’d like to do, so leave others to make their own decisions. Assuming that you know what’s best for them is controlling and demeaning. They’re far more capable in making that choice for themselves than you are.
Yes, I do. The side effects include everything puberty does, it affects your height, your bone density, brain development, energy levels, heart problems, the list goes on and on.
They need therapy, and puberty blockers have to be done as puberty starts, and that deadline causes steps to be skipped, things rushed, corners skipped, and once its done, its done. You cant undo it.
Imo, the therapy phase shouldnt stop until they are 18.
I’m not sure where you got your information from about puberty blockers, but you might want to consult a different source. Overwhelmingly the medical evidence points towards great benefits from puberty blockers with few drawbacks. They have been fairly commonly administered for almost 50 years at this point - initially for people with early onset puberty - and are widely recognised as safe. Their effect is reversible, side effects are quite few and minor - stuff like hot flashes, mood swings, usual teen hormonal stuff.
How do you, personally, research the risks and benefits of a course of treatment, and what is your methodology for comparing those to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks for individual cases?
They need therapy, and puberty blockers have to be done as puberty starts, and that deadline causes steps to be skipped, things rushed, corners skipped, and once its done, its done. You cant undo it.
Hold on. Puberty is the thing that is forcing things to be done in haste. Puberty blockers give people time to figure things out. That’s the point of it. It gives time to think. Puberty has significant consequences and side effects. Delaying that the effects are just that it’s delayed. It’s preventing the effects. Some people go through puberty later than others. Puberty blockers are largely just a mechanism we have to control when that happens. You can’t undo going through puberty, but you can largely undo the effects of puberty blockers.
Do you believe that all medical treatment should be withheld from children, then?
Only elective surgeries that have extreme side effects that simply cant be undone.
First of all, puberty blockers require no surgery.
The benefit of the medical intervention should compare costs and benefits. Even for children we do many medical treatments that can’t be undone because the benefits seem to outweigh the possible negatives that come with it. For example, fixing a cleft lip has some pretty large consequences, particularly socially, and can’t be undone.
We also allow some things that have essentially no positive and don’t have the child’s consent, such as circumcision.
Medical decisions should be made by the patient, their doctor, and their parent and/or guardian if that applies. It should not be made by you. You can’t weigh the costs and benefits for them since you have no idea on every person’s circumstances. If they think the outcome will be better with the treatment then it should be their decision.
Removing choice is not something anyone should be in favor of doing. You would not find it acceptable for other people to tell you you can’t do things you’d like to do, so leave others to make their own decisions. Assuming that you know what’s best for them is controlling and demeaning. They’re far more capable in making that choice for themselves than you are.
I think that’s a pretty reasonable position to hold. Do you feel like puberty blockers fall into that category?
Yes, I do. The side effects include everything puberty does, it affects your height, your bone density, brain development, energy levels, heart problems, the list goes on and on.
They need therapy, and puberty blockers have to be done as puberty starts, and that deadline causes steps to be skipped, things rushed, corners skipped, and once its done, its done. You cant undo it.
Imo, the therapy phase shouldnt stop until they are 18.
I’m not sure where you got your information from about puberty blockers, but you might want to consult a different source. Overwhelmingly the medical evidence points towards great benefits from puberty blockers with few drawbacks. They have been fairly commonly administered for almost 50 years at this point - initially for people with early onset puberty - and are widely recognised as safe. Their effect is reversible, side effects are quite few and minor - stuff like hot flashes, mood swings, usual teen hormonal stuff.
How do you, personally, research the risks and benefits of a course of treatment, and what is your methodology for comparing those to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks for individual cases?
Citation needed
Because I’m pretty sure puberty blockers do literally none of that.
Hold on. Puberty is the thing that is forcing things to be done in haste. Puberty blockers give people time to figure things out. That’s the point of it. It gives time to think. Puberty has significant consequences and side effects. Delaying that the effects are just that it’s delayed. It’s preventing the effects. Some people go through puberty later than others. Puberty blockers are largely just a mechanism we have to control when that happens. You can’t undo going through puberty, but you can largely undo the effects of puberty blockers.