Bioethics and transgender youth – Moral ways of working

The principles of bioethics developed by Beauchamp & Childress (1983) are considered by many as the standard theoretical framework from which to analyse ethical situations in medicine and healthcare. These four principles are... [ view full abstract ]

The principles of bioethics developed by Beauchamp & Childress (1983) are considered by many as the standard theoretical framework from which to analyse ethical situations in medicine and healthcare. These four principles are Non-Maleficence, Beneficence, Autonomy and Justice.

Non-maleficence – The principle that “above all, do no harm,” as stated in the Hippocratic Oath.
Beneficence – The principle of acting in the best interest of the other, the duty to “do good”.
Autonomy – The right for an individual to make his or her own choice.
Justice – A concept that emphasizes fairness and equality among individuals.

In the field of Transgender Health there is ongoing debate about the ethical and practical implications of treatment approaches. This paper examines the principles of bioethics as applied to a stepped-care approach in the treatment of transgender youth. In doing so, we evaluate the original aims of the service and through the use of clinical vignettes we discuss the moral dilemmas encountered in this field.

The aim is to highlight the complexity of the ethical dilemmas encountered when working with transgender youth. By using the principles of bioethics as a framework, we move the debate onwards from simplistic arguments around... [ view full abstract ]

The aim is to highlight the complexity of the ethical dilemmas encountered when working with transgender youth.
By using the principles of bioethics as a framework, we move the debate onwards from simplistic arguments around treatment models to a nuanced understanding of ethical decision making and moral ways of working with Transgender Youth.
For example, what are the ethical considerations when using a stepped-care approach for the assessment and treatment of young trans people?
What are the ethical considerations when working with uncertainty (or certainty) in the treatment of young trans people?
What are the ethical considerations when working with complexity?
What are the ethical considerations of evidence based practice with-in an NHS setting?

The principles of bioethics provide a framework for exploring the ethical dilemmas in working with transgender youth. [ view full abstract ]

The principles of bioethics provide a framework for exploring the ethical dilemmas in working with transgender youth.