Is It Ethical to Use Puberty Blockers in the Treatment of Gender Dysphoria?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter draws some normative conclusions from the analysis performed in the previous chapters. Although this chapter focuses specifically on puberty blockers, the arguments apply to other stages of medical treatment. This chapter suggests that we have moral reason to prefer preventing current harm than only potential future harm: the current is real, and the future is only speculative. This general moral ‘formula’ needs to take in consideration the magnitude and likelihood of harm. This chapter examines the possible complexities involved in evaluating benefits and risks, present and future, in the three dimensions that compose gender identity (intrapsychic, physical, and social). It also suggests that the idea that delaying treatment is a way of being cautious is misplaced, and is based on ‘omission bias’. Not only there is nothing inherently unethical with prescribing blockers: it may be unethical not to prescribe them.