Re: Sara

In the matter of *Re: Sara*, Rees J of the Supreme Court of [State of Australia] considered the capacity of a child, identified as Sara, to consent to medical treatment for gender dysphoria. The dispute concerned the administration of Stage 2 treatment for this condition, as defined by the DSM-5.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether Sara, a child born in 1998, possessed the legal competence to consent to the proposed medical treatment. This required an assessment of her maturity and understanding of the nature and consequences of the treatment.

Rees J applied principles of common law regarding the capacity of minors to consent to medical treatment. The Court determined that Sara was competent to consent to the Stage 2 treatment for gender dysphoria, recognising her understanding and maturity in relation to this specific medical intervention. The Court also made orders for the strict anonymisation of the proceedings and restricted access to the court file to protect Sara's privacy.