the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) recently hosted a discussion on the harms caused by needless medical interventions on intersex individuals. The event, led by Dr. Mauro Cabral Narváez, highlighted the meaningful physical and psychological damage resulting from non-consensual surgeries and a lack of adequate training among healthcare professionals.
Dr. Narváez emphasized that the primary causes of harm stem from irreversible and unnecessary surgeries performed on children without their informed consent. He also pointed to insufficient training for healthcare professionals in providing affirmative and informed care to intersex individuals. He advocates for a person-centered approach, prioritizing the informed consent process, and avoiding non-urgent medical interventions. Intersex variations are biological variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
The event, moderated by Dr. Luz María Moreno Tetlacuilo and teacher Samantha Flores, underscored the need for the medical community to move away from pathologizing intersex variations and instead focus on providing informed, ethical care that respects bodily autonomy. Those interested in learning more can view the full broadcast at this YouTube link.
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