Should sex change operations be guided by mental health specialists or psychologists?

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The sex change operation or sex change surgery, sex reassignment surgery, transgender surgery, etc. is a radical intervention whose objective is to convert the genitals of one sex to the opposite sex. It can be done by hormonal treatments, by surgical interventions, or both. In cases of modification of genitality, the operations are not reversible. Without neglecting that the decision is entirely personal and respectable, should non-reversible operations be carefully guided by qualified (mental/psychology) professionals? Should there be a base age to carry out these practices?

Sex change operations should be exclusive to the individual, without external interventions

Pro

• Pro Based on individual freedom, the choice of sex is ultimately the individual's decision, therefore the operation must be the exclusive decision of the person who wishes to be intervened.
  • Objection Doctors should have a say in important medical decisions, as doctors have a duty of care to their patients.
    • Objection That is not what is being argued here - rather, we are talking about whether mental professionals should necessarily be consulted in every case of gender reassignment surgery, and being as this is a surgical procedure and not a mental health matter, their expertise - while appreciated - should not be required. To say nothing of the fact that mental health professionals will need to build up a rapport with a patient and reach a proper understanding of things with them over the course of many sessions, which necessarily delays the process and possibly subjects the individual to unnecessary harm.
  • Objection As with the right to vote, we all have it but from a certain age, because it is assumed that before that we are not fit for such a decision. The change of sex is just as relevant, therefore, it should be possible to do it only after a certain age.
    • Objection That is not the subject of this debate. Rather it is asking if a mental professional must be consulted in the decision. Are you required to consult a therapist to ensure all of your political opinions are mentally healthy before stepping into a voting booth?
• Pro Medical interventions being required for the sake of making a decision, particularly intervention by mental health professionals, often don't reveal any valuable information beyond that yes, the patient does actually want the procedure they are specifically volunteering and asking for; during that time, they may be subjected to increased dysphoria as the details of their body and what they dislike about it are repeatedly brought up and thrown in their face, and the deadline for the procedure is prolonged substantially. This subjects patients to unnecessary discomfort and pain, and is thus counterproductive for their care.

Con

• Con The sex change operation is not something reversible, it is something that lasts for a lifetime. If the person regrets after the operation, even if years pass, he cannot go back. Therefore, they must be deeply advised by professionals and sign a consent regulated by the State.
  • Objection The rate of regret for sex reassignment surgery is dramatically lower than the rate of regret for things like life-saving cancer treatments. Overwhelmingly, the issue you are describing is an edge case, hardly something that would require the process of mandatory mental health screening before every single surgery.
    • Objection For other treatments there are various options. For sex reassignment surgery, the alternative is to not do it.
    • Objection Citation needed.
  • Objection The state does not need this level of intervention in a person's personal decisions. What people do with their own bodies should be left up to them.
• Con Studies show gender dysphoria is often a pathology that is later resolved.

See also

• Is LGBTQIA+ being forced on society?