Re: Christopher

This matter concerned an application by Christopher's mother seeking court authorisation for specific medical treatments for Gender Identity Dysphoria. The court was required to determine whether Christopher, born in 1999, was competent to consent to these treatments, which included monthly intramuscular injections of Sustanon 250, potentially increasing in dose, and long-acting Reandron 1000 injections every three months, as well as any other hormone, psychiatric, or psychological treatment recommended by his treating medical practitioners.

Johns J considered the issue of Christopher's competency to consent to the proposed medical treatments. The court applied principles relating to the capacity of a minor to consent to medical treatment, which requires an assessment of whether the child has sufficient understanding and intelligence to enable them to understand fully what is proposed, including the nature, purpose, and likely consequences of the treatment. The court also noted the importance of the guidance and recommendations of Christopher's treating medical practitioners, including a paediatrician and a consultant psychiatrist.

The court ordered that if it was satisfied that Christopher was competent to consent to the medical treatment described in the initiating application, he would be authorised to make his own decision in relation to that treatment. The applicant mother was granted liberty to provide un-anonymised copies of the orders and reasons for judgment to all persons involved with Christopher's treatment. All other aspects of the applicant's initiating application were dismissed. Strict confidentiality orders were made, prohibiting the publication of any identifying details of Christopher, his family, medical practitioners, school, or the court proceedings, with only anonymised reasons for judgment and orders to be released to non-parties.