New laws that prohibit conversion therapy pose no material risk to evidence-based and clinically appropriate practice

Abstract

Objective

To examine the extent to which the Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 (ACT) and Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 (Vic) might pose a risk to evidence-based and clinically appropriate practice.

Method

Using a recent publication by Parkinson and Morris as a starting point, the provisions of the new legislation are carefully examined.

Results

The ACT and Victorian laws do not imperil psychiatrists undertaking evidence-based and clinically appropriate practice.

Conclusions

While it may be wise for psychiatrists to abandon this area of practice if they hold strong personal beliefs that the failure to identify with one’s natal gender is morally wrong, nothing in the new laws should deter psychiatrists from providing people with gender dysphoria with evidence-based and clinically appropriate care.

Keywords

gender dysphoria gender identity legislation ‘conversion therapy’

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References

Public Health Act 2005 Qld as amended by Health and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Qld.

Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 ACT.

Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 Vic.

Parkinson

Morris

. Psychiatry, psychotherapy and the criminalisation of ‘conversion therapy’ in Australia. Australasian Psychiatry 2021; 29: 409–411.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists . Recognising and addressing the mental health needs of people experiencing Gender Dysphoria/Gender. Available from URL: https://www.ranzcp.org/news-policy/policy-and-advocacy/position-statements/gender-dysphoria (2021, accessed 17 September 2021).