Re: Tara

In the matter of *Re: Tara*, Rees J of the Supreme Court of [State of Australia] was required to determine the competency of a young person, Tara, to consent to medical treatment for gender dysphoria. The proceedings concerned the administration of Stage 2 treatment for this condition, as classified in the DSM-5.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether Tara, a person born in 1999, possessed the legal capacity to consent to the proposed medical intervention. This required an assessment of her maturity and understanding of the nature and consequences of the treatment.

Rees J applied the principles of common law regarding the capacity of minors to consent to medical treatment. The Court found that Tara was competent to consent to the Stage 2 treatment for gender dysphoria. The judgment also included extensive orders for suppression of identifying information to protect Tara's privacy, prohibiting publication of her name, family details, and other identifying facts, and restricting access to the court file.