My mother worked in trans gender clinics in large hospitals 30 years ago in the U.K. She ended up changing specialism as the debate back then was between medical professors as to whether it was right to begin ‘treatment’ immediately as per the patients wishes and start their transition, both chemically and through surgery. Or whether treating the underlying mental health issue was indeed the best course of action. There was no scientific rationale for the former winning out aside from the fact it appeased patients more. She and many other academics moved away from the field back then because of what they saw happening. They fundamentally disagreed with the approach and she has likened it to, what I appreciate its now an overused comparison but ‘if you were in the care of doctor for anorexia nervosa, the clinician wouldn’t recommend a diet plan for you’.

I’ve undoubtedly butchered my explanation but it’s staggering to think that such contention even back then has since been glossed over in favour of appeasement.