Guidelines for Gender Affirming Healthcare for Gender Diverse and Transgender Children, Young People and Adults in Aotearoa, New Zealand
Jeannie Oliphant, Jaimie Veale, Joe Macdonald, Richard Carroll, Rachel Johnson, Mo Harte, Cathy Stephenson, Jemima Bullock, David Cole, Patrick Manning
Health professionals and transgender advocates from around the country have created a new set of guidelines: Gender Affirming Healthcare for Gender Diverse and Transgender Children, Young People and Adults in Aotearoa New Zealand. The guidelines provide an approach to healthcare delivery which is uniquely Aotearoa/New Zealand, by utilising Mori models of health that recognise the importance of holistic care, while also referencing international standards. The new guidelines promote healthcare based on informed consent. This means that healthcare providers duty of care is to make sure that people seeking gender affirming care are empowered with all the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves. The guidelines make recommendations for district health boards. There is an urgent need for each DHB to develop a clear pathway for provision of gender affirming healthcare locally.