Age of informed consent for sexuality and gender is such an essential topic for discussion and one with no good resolutions.

Age is such an arbitrary answer; in fact, it’s not a solution at all. But try to come up with a better one.

I once had a patient whose wife was 15 years old. When he became ill, she flew from their village in Africa to the United States. She had twin infant sons. She did not speak English.

When I expressed my skepticism to my patient, he said, “Dr. Olson, you don’t understand our culture.” And I didn’t.

How do we make a law that reflects those differences in maturity and judgment, especially as they are impacted by culture and religion?

I believe that the answer lies in the question of who might be damaged.