A father from Reykjavik, Iceland has claimed a court removed his 10-year-old autistic son from his custody last December after he refused to allow the child to undergo gender transition and identify as a girl, with his video statement going viral on social media.
Alexander Rocha stated in the video: “Last December, by the decision of the court, my son was taken away from me. The reason? Because I did not want to allow my son to undergo a gender transition and identify as a girl at the age of 10.”
The father expressed concerns about medical interventions including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. “As a father, I do not want to see happen to my child, who was already diagnosed on the autism spectrum. I believe that my child should not be exposed to life-altering procedures, such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy. These things will alter drastically his body, but also his mind,” Rocha stated.
He added: “I have not been able to see my son in months and my family is absolutely devastated, as you can imagine. Because of this, I’m not able to be the parent that I know I am.”
Rocha confirmed he is fighting to appeal the court decision and regain custody. “Today, I’m fighting to appeal this court decision and win back my child. No parent should go through this. Children deserve to live free from radical gender ideology, which pressure them to make life decisions they don’t even understand yet,” he said.
Medical treatment for minors in Iceland is governed by the Patients’ Rights Act No. 74/1997, which states children under 16 require parental consent for medical treatment, while children aged 12 and over must be involved in decisions affecting them.
However, if custodial parents refuse consent for what doctors classify as “necessary treatment,” medical professionals can refer the matter to child protection authorities for review. This creates a legal pathway where disputes over treatment including gender-related care may escalate beyond parental control.
Gender-related healthcare for minors is organised under the Gender Autonomy Act No. 80/2019, which establishes specialist multidisciplinary teams and formal appeal processes, but it does not contain a specific clause authorising or banning puberty blockers.
In practice, puberty blockers for minors in Iceland fall under general medical consent law and child welfare oversight rather than a standalone puberty-blocker statute. The legal framework means medical professionals can petition authorities when they believe parents are refusing necessary treatment.
The case raises questions about parental rights versus medical authority when parents and healthcare professionals disagree about gender-related treatments for minors. Rocha’s specific concerns about his son’s autism spectrum diagnosis add another layer to the dispute.
The viral video has not provided details about what medical professionals or child protection authorities stated in the court proceedings that led to the custody decision. The specific medical recommendations and the court’s reasoning for removal have not been publicly disclosed.
Rocha’s appeal will determine whether the December court decision is upheld or overturned. The timeline for the appeal process and when a ruling might be issued remains unclear. Whether he will be granted visitation rights during the appeal is also not specified.
The case represents a test of Iceland’s legal framework for handling disputes between parents and medical authorities over gender-related treatments for minors. The outcome could have implications for how similar cases are handled in the country going forward.
