Major concerns over Australian study into transgender children

Dr Linda Calabresi

writer

Dr Linda Calabresi

GP; Medical Editor, Healthed

Dr Linda Calabresi

Some very well-respected psychiatrists have raised serious concerns about the ethics and methodology of a new prospective study into transgender children, taking place at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital Gender Service.

The protocol of the study, known as the Trans20 longitudinal cohort study has been recently published in the journal, BMJ Open.

In essence, the study aims to track the long-term outcomes of children and adolescents who have presented to this service over the last three years (from February 2017 to February 2020). Researchers estimate that the final number of participants will be about 600.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

References

D’Angelo R, Carlos d’Abrera J, Halasz G, Morris P, Prager S, Spielman R. What constitutes informed consent in the treatment of childhood gender dysphoria?: some comments on the Trans20 study. BMJ Open. 2019 Dec 14; 9(11): e032151. Available from: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e032151.responses#what-constitutes-informed-consent-in-the-treatment-of-childhood-gender-dysphoria-some-comments-on-the-trans20-study

Tollit MA, Pace CC, Telfer M, Hoq M, Bryson J, Fulkoski N, et al. What are the health outcomes of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia? Study protocol for the Trans20 longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open. 2019 Nov 4; 9(11): e032151. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032151.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Dr Gabby Mahoney

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Allergen Introduction – Practical Tips for GPs

Dr Terri Foran

Dr Terri Foran

Oral Contraception Update

A/Prof Karam Kostner

A/Prof Karam Kostner

What do we do With High Triglycerides?

Prof Andrew Sindone

Prof Andrew Sindone

An Update on Heart Failure in Primary Care

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Dr Linda Calabresi

writer

Dr Linda Calabresi

GP; Medical Editor, Healthed

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

The government told the public that the average GP is earning $280k per year. Do you think this figure is:

Very overestimated

0%

Moderately/slightly overestimated

0%

Quite accurate

0%

Moderately/slightly underestimated

0%

Very underestimated

0%

Recent podcasts

Listen to expert interviews.
Click to open in a new tab

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

First Healthed Webcast for 2026

An Update on Heart Failure in Primary Care

Tuesday 3rd February, 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Speaker

Prof Andrew Sindone

Cardiologist; Director of the Heart Failure Unit and Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Concord Hospital

We invite you to our first webcast of 2026, where Prof Andrew Sindone will provide an update on heart failure in primary care. Earn up to 4 hours CPD. RACGP & ACRRM accredited.