Should Medically Unnecessary Surgeries on Children Be Prohibited?

• This week, the California Legislature passed a resolution denouncing medically unnecessary surgeries for intersex children.

• The resolution demands that the medical community halt nonconsensual medical procedures that try to cosmetically “normalize” variations in intersex children’s sex characteristics, a practice it describes as a human rights violation:

“Intersex children should be free to choose whether to undergo life-altering surgeries that irreversibly — and sometimes irreparably — cause harm.”

Intersex explained

interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth define intersex thus:

“’Intersex’ refers to people who are born with any of a range of biological sex characteristics that may not fit typical notions about male or female bodies. Variations may be in their chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs like testes or ovaries… Experts estimate that as many as 1.7% of people are born with intersex traits – about the same number who are born with red hair.”

Being intersex relates to biological sex characteristics. It’s not the same as transgender: Someone whose gender identity – how they feel inside – doesn’t correspond with their birth sex. Intersex is also not the same as sexuality, and intersex people can be heterosexual, homosexual, or any of the other sexual orientations that are present in the broader population.

Surgery

interACT says that surgeries performed on intersex children, such as clitoral reductions or vaginal reconstruction, are often characterized as “social emergencies,” but they are irreversible and medically unnecessary, and can be physically damaging and emotionally devastating.

Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat who introduced the resolution, said:

“These surgeries should be performed only with informed consent by the person whose life will be permanently impacted. A baby cannot provide that consent… These surgeries can have significant negative impacts on people’s lives, particularly if the gender chosen by the physician and parents is different from the child’s ultimate gender identity.”

Supporters of such surgery often argue that it’s the best way to protect a child from terrible abuse in a society that remains overwhelmingly gender binary. However, many intersex adults who underwent surgery as children say that their parents and physicians chose the wrong sex, with devastating, lifelong consequences.

California’s resolution neither changes any statutes nor bans the practice.

What do you think?

Should medically unnecessary surgeries on children be prohibited? Hit Take Action to tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: ER de Grey)