Better informed consent

Law for Life is embarking on a new project to help children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria to better understand the issues surrounding consent. We will be working with the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), based at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. GIDS is an NHS specialist service for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria.

The aim of the project is to better understand the legal framework underpinning informed consent amongst children and young people; to identify barriers to reaching informed consent amongst those experiencing gender dysphoria; and to understand the information needs of children and young people with gender dysphoria referred to GIDS.

At the end of this first phase of the project Law for Life will make recommendations to GIDS for improved or new information which aims to improve the capacity of the children and young people who are referred to the GIDS service to consent to medical treatment.

If you would like to know more about this project, or if you are a lawyer with expertise in consent to medical treatment for children who would like to be involved, get in touch with our project manager, Theresa Harris at: admin@advicenow.org.uk.