I found this video to be very interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PUyyGI8r4w
Doctors get away with performing infant genital surgeries because it is part of the accepted "medical standards" when in fact, there really is no medical reason.
Therapeutic privilege, which is an exception to informed consent, is currently part of Canadian law. Doctors can decide not to disclose health information to the parent and/or child to avoid "confusing them" or causing "psychological harm". There's no evidence that children growing up with intersex genitals are worse off psychologically than those who are altered. It is also believed that informing the parent/child may cause them to make the "wrong" decision. What about the child's right to informed consent? Should the parent be informed without the child's consent? Is counseling, peer suport groups and available research about their condition even an option?
