Parents At Risk Of Losing Custody Of Their Teenage Son For Refusing To Hormone Therapy

By Samantha in News On 20th February 2018

#1 Ohio Couple At Risk Of Losing Custody Of Their 17-Year-Old

According to the reports, a couple from Ohio are at risk of losing custody of their 17-year-old for refusing to hormone therapy. As stated, the child whose name cannot be revealed for legal reasons was born a female and was later diagnosed with a number of medical conditions including gender dysphoria, depression and anxiety.

Reportedly, the child's parents want the court to stop their son from getting hormone therapy and they might lose their son over the issue. It was recommended by the teenager's medical team that he undergo hormone therapy in his situation, which has since been characterized as potentially life or death.

#2 Father's Refusal To Acknowledge Son's Decision Has Developed Suicidal Tendencies In The Teenager

The court documents reveal the teen was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in 2016, after being hospitalized. The American Psychiatric Association defines the diagnosis as "a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify." Because of the conflicting case, the teenager has been granted temporary legal custody of Hamilton County Job and Family Services and lives with his maternal grandparents.

It was testified by the medical experts that because of the father's refusal to accept his son's male name has triggered depression in the child and can lead to suicidal feelings.

advertisement
Follow On Google News

#3 The Teenager Wants To Live With His Grandparents Who Support His Decision

Since the teenager's grandparents support his decision of hormone therapy, so he hopes to live with them for good after the procedure. The child's court-appointed guardian has also testified that it would be better if the teenager lives with his grandparents.

According to medical experts, after getting treatment and counselling in a loving environment, the teenager's mental health has finally started to show improvement.

advertisement

#4 Court Also Agrees With The Teenager's Decision

Attorney Paul Hunt, who represents the child's court-appointed guardian, argued in court, "We think the grandparents are the ones who have an open mind and will ... make this sort of decision best for the child. The parents have clearly indicated that they're not open to it."

Follow On Twitter

#5 Parents Want The Teenager To Think Before Making Such A Life Altering Decision

While the parents have refused to address the issue publicly, through their attorney they have given their statement and according to it, they want the child to wait before making such a big decision, as stated by attorney Karent Brinkman, "It does not appear that this child is even close to being able to make such a life-altering decision at this time." Brinkman further added to it, "If the maternal grandparents were to be given custody, it would simply be a way for the child to circumvent the necessity of parents consent. [The] Parents believe custody of the child should be restored to them, so they can make the medical decisions they believe are in their child's best interest until [the child] turns 18 years of age."

#6 In Real Parents Are Not Open To The Decision At All Because Of Their Religious Point Of View

On the other hand, it seems like the teenager's parents are not open to the idea of hormone therapy at all and they are not ready to accept the decision at all costs, Donald Clancy of the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office argued, however, that the parents actually don’t want their child to undergo hormone therapy due to their strict religious beliefs. According to Clancy document submitted to the court, which reveals the father's statement regarding the matter, "Father testified that any kind of transition at all would go against his core beliefs and allowing the child to transition would be akin to him taking his heart out of his chest and placing it on the table."