Ethics and Intersex

This collection of 21 articles is designed to serve as a state-of-the art reference book for intersexuals, their parents, health care professionals, ethics committee members, and anyone interested in problems associated with intersexuality. It fills an important need because of its uniqueness as an interdisciplinary effort, bringing together not just urologists and endocrinologists, but gynecologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, theologians, gender theorists, medical historians, and philosophers. Most contributors are well-known experts on intersexuality in their respective fields. The book is also unique in that it is also an international effort, including authors from England, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, India, Canada and the United States.

The book begins with introductory chapters on the etiology of intersex conditions, conceptual clarification, legal issues, and reflections about the inherent characteristics of medical care that have led up to the issues we face today and explain the resistance to change in traditional practices. Researchers provide recent data on gender identity, surgical outcomes, and appropriate clinical care. Issues never having been addressed are introduced. The significance of intersexuality for Christianity and for philosophical concerns with authenticity add further depth to the collection. The final chapters deal with future possibilities in the treatment of intersex and for intersex advocacy.

• Gender
• autonomy
• ethics
• gender identity
• genital surgery
• health
• human rights
• intersexuality

From the reviews:

"This book is a bold attempt to address the vexed question of ethics and intersex. Sharon Sytsma has brought together 20 contributions from a range of professionals. … Some chapters include useful facts and are essential reading for professionals involved in the intricacies of managing intersex conditions. … Several chapters in this book are a positive contribution to knowledge of the complexity of managing intersex conditions. To that end, it is a useful resource … ." (Ieuan Hughes, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 356 (23), 2007)

"This edited volume is an exceptional biopsychosocial account of modern day intersexuality. … In conclusion, this volume has delivered the goods! … This book is a successful attempt at assessing global ethical practice. … As an excellent academic and humanistic read, it has disseminated the facts and helped to break the silence. … The journey has only just begun and this book has definitely helped to pave an ethical way forward." (Erasmo Tacconelli, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 36, 2007)

• Department of Philosophy, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA

  Sharon E. Sytsma

Policies and ethics