Under-16s unlikely to make informed choice on puberty blockers, court rules

UK court rules against clinic in puberty blocking drugs case
UK court rules against clinic in puberty blocking drugs case Copyright Euronews
By Everton GayleAP
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

Hormone blockers are drugs that can pause the development of puberty and are sometimes prescribed to help children with gender dysphoria by giving them more time to consider their options.

ADVERTISEMENT

Britain's High Court has ruled that children under 16 considering gender reassignment are unlikely to understand the risks of the drugs they are taking.

It says the experimental nature of the medicines that delay puberty mean the courts should decide over the administration of them - even for adults.

Hormone blockers are drugs that can pause the development of puberty and are sometimes prescribed to help children with gender dysphoria by giving them more time to consider their options.

The case was brought by two claimants against a National Health Service trust that runs the UK’s main gender identity development service for children.

One of the claimants, who was prescribed hormone blockers at 16, argued that the clinic should have challenged her more over her decision to transition to a male.

Tuesday’s ruling will “protect vulnerable young people”, said Keira Bell, who is now 23 and has stopped taking cross-sex hormones. She added that she was “delighted to see that common sense has prevailed”.

However, Susie Green, who is the head of Mermaids, a children's trans charity, disagrees and says the court's ruling is disturbing.

Green says puberty blockers have been used for decades to treat gender dysphoria and the effects are entirely reversible. She added that fewer than 1% of people who use these drugs regret their decision.

"So what this judgment is doing is ruling for that one person who may change their mind. The 99 others must go through a puberty that doesn't align with who they are. Frankly, that's torture."

**Watch the full interview with Green in the video player, above. **

Journalist • Everton Gayle

Share this articleComments

You might also like

‘Out of touch and cruel’: Trans rights groups condemn UK governmment's new schools guidance

How have social and political attitudes changed in the UK over the last 40 years?

Life with mum and dad: More UK adults still living with their parents, new figures reveal