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When parents withhold consent

In the Netherlands medical treatment of minors between 12 and 16 requires the consent of the parents alongside that of the minor.

Starting point

In the Netherlands medical treatment of minors between 12 and 16 requires the consent of the parents alongside that of the minor. For 16- and 17-year-olds the minor decides independently, with exceptions for far-reaching or very specific treatments.

Conflict between parent and child

When parents do not consent to care that the minor and the clinician do want, the children's court can be involved. The judge weighs the interest of the child, the necessity of treatment and the positions of all parties.

Practice in gender care

Gender clinics usually focus on family discussion and mediation before legal steps are taken. The absence of parental consent makes treatment — especially for far-reaching interventions — virtually impossible in practice.