Re: Blaine

In the matter of *Blaine*, Cleary J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the medical treatment of a child, referred to as Blaine. The dispute centred on whether Blaine, a child born in 2000, possessed the capacity to consent to medical treatment aimed at initiating the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine if Blaine was competent, in accordance with the principles established in *Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority* [1986] AC 112, to consent to "Phase 2" treatment, which involved the administration of hormonal medication. This determination was crucial for authorising the commencement of such medical interventions.

Cleary J applied the *Gillick* competence test, which assesses whether a child, who has sufficient understanding and intelligence to understand fully what is proposed, has the capacity to consent to medical treatment without parental consent. The Court found that Blaine was indeed competent to consent to the proposed treatment. The judgment also included extensive orders for the anonymisation and suppression of identifying information relating to Blaine, his family, medical practitioners, and the court proceedings, to protect the child's privacy.