It seems clear that the law, which is often thought to move in a mysterious way, is now at last prepared to recognise the effect of a sex reassignment procedure as altering the legal status of a person. The all- important chromosome in Corbett v Corbett has shrunk to insignificance. This has happened not so much by any medical or surgical considerations, but rather by the growing importance of anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation, as can be seen in the recent developments in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Thus the legalistic hang-ups of the past are being laid to rest by a more compassionate and pragmatic consideration of reality. Instead of looking at chromosomes, the law is at last prepared to look at humans.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:	Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Other Health
Objective Field:	Health not elsewhere classified
Author:	Finlay, HL (Dr Henry Finlay)
ID Code:	10600
Year Published:	1997
Deposited By:	Law
Deposited On:	1997-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-11
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