Health and medical ethics

For an introduction to these issues, see our page on bodily integrity

World Health Organization logo

Joint statement on the International Classification of Diseases 11

Declaración conjunta sobre la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades 11 / Совместное заявление о Международной классификации болезней 11 / Déclaration commune sur la Classification Internationale des Maladies 11 / Dichiarazione comune sulla classificazione internazionale delle malattie 11 / 關於針對國際疾病分類第11版(ICD-11)的聯合聲明 / 关于针对国际疾病分类第11版(ICD-11)的联合声明 / Yhteislausunto kansainvälisestä tautiluokituksesta ICD-11 / Wspólne oświadczenie w sprawie Międzynarodowej Klasyfikacji Chorób 11 (ICD11)

A joint statement by more than 60 intersex-led organisations and groups to the World Health Organization.

World Health Organization logo

Media statement – International Classification of Diseases 11 and intersex people

More than 50 intersex-led organisations and groups from every region of the world have signed a joint statement to the World Health Organization condemning the repathologisation of intersex variations as “disorders of sex development” in the WHO International Classification of Diseases 11 (ICD-11), and medical classifications that promote early surgical intervention to “fix” intersex bodies….
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IDAHOBIT logotype, white text on black

IDAHOBIT statement, 2019

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and, in recent years, discrimination against intersex people. The event marks the anniversary of the partial depathologisation of homosexuality by the World Health Organisation, that is, the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. We recognise the importance of this event to people who are…
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Image presenting Kirby Institute Seminar Series

Kirby Institute lecture by Morgan Carpenter

Earlier this month, co-executive director Morgan Carpenter gave a lecture at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, on “medical and legal contradictions on the meaning and needs of intersex people”.

O&G Magazine cover, December 2018

O&G Magazine: “What do intersex people need from doctors?” and more

O&G Magazine, the magazine of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) published a special issue on LGBTQIA people for December 2018. It contains articles on intersex people by Morgan Carpenter and Dr Jenny Beale, and relevant content by Dr Kimberley Ivory, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere and others.

Australian Law Reform Commission submission

Submission to the ALRC on reform of the family law system

IHRA has made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission regarding its discussion paper on reform of the family law system, with a focus on reform of the welfare jurisdiction to ensure that children with intersex variations and persons with disabilities are protected from harmful practices.

OHCHR symbol

Submissions to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

IHRA has made a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, kindly endorsed by the AIS Support Group Australia, Disabled People’s Organisations of Australia, National LGBTI Health Alliance, and People with Disability Australia. As a member of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, IHRA also participated in the development and submission of a joint shadow report.

Reproductive Health Matters Journal: "Intersex human rights: clinical self-regulation has failed"

Morgan Carpenter: “Clinical regulation has failed”

On invitation, Morgan Carpenter has written a blog post for the journal Reproductive Health Matters: “Intersex human rights: clinical self-regulation has failed”. Here’s an extract: There is neither clinical consensus nor clinical evidence to support current coercive practices [8]. Clinical bodies face multiple challenges in constructing evidence to support these clinical practices. A deliberate historic…
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Orchid

Submission to the AHRC on protecting rights in medical settings

We are pleased to share our submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission in respect of its inquiry on protecting the human rights of people born with variations in sex characteristics in the context of medical interventions. The submission has been kindly endorsed by the AIS Support Group Australia (AISSGA), Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA),…
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Journal of Bioethical Inquiry logo

Morgan Carpenter: new peer-reviewed papers on medical “normalisation” and legal “othering”

We are pleased to share a current and recent peer-reviewed journal article by co-executive director Morgan Carpenter, on intersex health and human rights, and an associated book chapter. In an open access peer-reviewed journal article and a book chapter, Morgan describes contradictions where medicine construct intersex bodies as either female or male while law and…
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