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| Court grants teen breast removal | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| An Australian teenage girl has been given permission by a court to have both breasts surgically removed to more closely resemble a boy. | An Australian teenage girl has been given permission by a court to have both breasts surgically removed to more closely resemble a boy. |
| The 17-year-old, known as Alex in court and referred to as a boy, has a psychological condition that makes him unhappy with his gender. | The 17-year-old, known as Alex in court and referred to as a boy, has a psychological condition that makes him unhappy with his gender. |
| The Family Court in Melbourne said the removal of both breasts would help Alex to build a new life as a boy. | The Family Court in Melbourne said the removal of both breasts would help Alex to build a new life as a boy. |
| The decision has angered Catholic groups, who view it as irresponsible. | The decision has angered Catholic groups, who view it as irresponsible. |
| Alex has "gender identity dysphoria", a psychological condition where a person believes they are the opposite sex, the Age newspaper reported. | |
| Alex has been on hormone treatment since he was 13 to prevent menstruation, it said. | |
| Social development | Social development |
| He applied to the court for a double mastectomy before he turned 18 - the age at which he would not need the court's consent and which he would no longer receive social support services as a minor. | He applied to the court for a double mastectomy before he turned 18 - the age at which he would not need the court's consent and which he would no longer receive social support services as a minor. |
| Family Court chief justice Diana Bryant said Alex, who lives life as a male, was socially constrained by the breasts, avoided being hugged and wore binding at the beach. | Family Court chief justice Diana Bryant said Alex, who lives life as a male, was socially constrained by the breasts, avoided being hugged and wore binding at the beach. |
| "So it was quite an impediment to his social development, which everyone thought was very important," Judge Bryant was quoted as saying by the Age. | |
| "Overwhelmingly, the evidence was that it was in his interests. And I made that order. | "Overwhelmingly, the evidence was that it was in his interests. And I made that order. |
| "I wanted to make it quickly so that he could have the operation straight away.'' | "I wanted to make it quickly so that he could have the operation straight away.'' |
| Critics say that such radical surgery on a 17-year-old is irresponsible and premature. | Critics say that such radical surgery on a 17-year-old is irresponsible and premature. |
| Campaigners have said that a man from Melbourne who had a sex-change operation in his early 20s was now suing his doctors because he regretted the decision. | Campaigners have said that a man from Melbourne who had a sex-change operation in his early 20s was now suing his doctors because he regretted the decision. |