A father in Iceland lost custody of his 11-year-old autistic son after challenging medical professionals and courts about the child’s gender transition, sparking international debate about parental rights and children’s medical decisions.

Court Strips Parental Rights Over Medical Concerns

Alexandre Rocha, a French national living in Iceland for 25 years, lost custody of his son to his son’s mother in December after questioning the long-term impacts of puberty blockers and hormone therapies for his child. Rocha told media outlets he believes the judge prioritized progressive ideology over parental rights. The father said he cannot support medical interventions he considers harmful, calling them equivalent to castration for children who cannot comprehend permanent consequences.

Rocha raised concerns about his child’s autism diagnosis, which occurred just eight months before the custody hearing. He argued that children on the autism spectrum often struggle with identity issues and feeling comfortable in their own bodies. His son sometimes prefers to be a cat, wearing a tail or cat ears. However, an Icelandic endocrinologist dismissed these concerns under oath, guaranteeing hormone drugs posed no problems and refusing to examine underlying mental health factors.

Elon Musk Weighs In on Controversy

The case drew attention from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who commented on the story after it circulated on social media. Musk, who has spoken publicly about his own child’s transition, said he was tricked into giving consent for puberty blockers before understanding the situation. He described the case as evidence of ideological influence reaching Iceland. Rocha expressed honor at Musk’s support, saying parents share a common fight regardless of borders or nationalities.

Father Fears Unknown Medical Treatment

Now excluded from medical decisions, Rocha worries his son may be receiving hormone treatments without his knowledge. In February, he learned the child’s mother formally changed his son’s name to a female name, meaning official identification will state the child is a girl. Rocha said the mother is pushing stronger ideology than ever, using terms he had to research using artificial intelligence to understand. The father believes the court’s decision was designed to silence dissent and control parents who question medical interventions for children.