This website provides a means for Australian doctors to support the call by professor of paediatrics and child health, John Whitehall, for a formal Parliamentary Inquiry into “the rapid rise of childhood gender dysphoria in Australia and the lack of scientific basis for current medical treatment.”
Over a two-week period, Sunday 22 September to Sunday 6 October 2019, doctors will be able to add their names to our joint letter of support for Professor Whitehall’s proposal, and the letter will then be sent to the Health Minister, Greg Hunt MP. Additional signatories after this fortnight will be welcomed but not included.
We agree with Dr Whitehall, as stated in his letter to Minister Hunt of September 4th: “It seems that public policy and medical ‘best practice’ is being declared in haste without a sufficient foundation of fact and reflection, and a formal Parliamentary Inquiry could provide that foundation.”
We appreciate the Minister’s concern for the rapid escalation of childhood gender dysphoria, as evidenced by his referring the matter to the RACP for consideration, but we note Dr Whitehall’s observation that, “the RACP is ill-fitted for such an investigation. It is, after all, an organisation primarily dedicated to the education of physicians. Interpretation of ethical issues that transcend the activities of physicians and involve participatory social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and surgeons are beyond its purview.”
The College has itself confirmed, in response to the Minister’s invitation, that “the RACP is primarily an educational institution and does not conduct inquiries”. The College also confirmed that it “strongly supports” the type of treatment guidelines published by the gender service at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, a commitment that seems to preclude rigorous critique of such guidelines.
Our joint letter appeals to the federal Health Minister to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into this deeply troubling matter, where parents, teachers and lawyers as well as doctors and others may bring their concerns to our elected representatives for thorough consideration.
Thank you for joining us in supporting this proposal by Professor Whitehall.
COORDINATORS
Dr Rob Pollnitz, paediatrician, South Australia
Dr Georgios Liangas, child psychiatrist, NSW
Dr Chris Middleton, physician, Tasmania
Dr Con Kafataris, physician, NSW
Dr Lachlan Dunjey, GP, Western Australia
Dr David van Gend, GP, Queensland
Gender Inquiry 