The Genspect Position

Transgender identification accompanied by a drive for medical body modification is a mental health condition that requires thoughtful psychosocial support proportionate to the level of distress experienced. Offering extreme body modifications to individuals in psychological distress does not address underlying causes and does not constitute meaningful mental health care.

These interventions are elective medical procedures that align more closely with consumer-driven services than with therapeutic healthcare. They reflect a model closer to "let the buyer beware" than to the medical principle of "first, do no harm."

Healthcare should aim to strengthen both body and mind. Interventions that permanently alter or weaken the body without resolving psychological distress do not meet this standard and should not be funded through public healthcare systems.

Medical interventions for individuals with a diagnosed DSD (Differences/Disorders of Sex Development, congenital conditions where chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex development is atypical) are considered legitimate healthcare and should be provided in hospital settings by qualified professionals, ensuring safety, oversight, and appropriate post-operative care.

Individuals who wish to pursue elective body modifications could do so through private clinics, similar to cosmetic surgery providers. Hospitals and publicly funded healthcare institutions should remain focused on providing treatments that address illness, restore function, and support genuine health and wellbeing.