Re: Sasha

In the matter of Re: Sasha, Johnston J of the Supreme Court of [State of Australia] was required to determine the capacity of a child, identified as Sasha, to consent to medical treatment for gender dysphoria. The dispute concerned the administration of Stage 2 treatment for this condition.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether Sasha, born in 1998, was competent to consent to the proposed medical treatment. This involved an assessment of Sasha's maturity and understanding of the nature and implications of the treatment for gender dysphoria.

Johnston J applied principles relating to the capacity of minors to consent to medical treatment, considering the nature of the treatment and the child's ability to understand its benefits, risks, and alternatives. The Court declared that Sasha was competent to consent to the administration of Stage 2 treatment for gender dysphoria. The Court also made orders for the anonymisation of judgments and file access to protect Sasha's privacy, discharged the Independent Children's Lawyer, and vacated a scheduled hearing.