Trans-identifying children can’t consent to puberty blockers, lawyers argue, in landmark UK case against Tavistock clinic

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A lawyer for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs GIDS, dismissed the idea that hormone treatment was damaging to gender-dysphoric children, calling Hyam’s suggestion of a moratorium on hormone blockers without a court order “a radical proposition.” In testimony submitted in writing, Fenella Morris QC suggested the claimants were trying to “impose a blanket exclusion” on under-18s consenting to medical treatment at all. 

While Morris defended the injections as “a safe and reversible treatment with a well-established history,” she also attempted to shift responsibility to the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which she argued were actually “responsible” for prescribing the hormone blockers. Both institutions will give testimony on Thursday.

With the number of children identifying as transgender having soared over the past decade, this case could have major repercussions for the growth industry of youth gender clinics. Earlier this year, the NHS announced an independent review of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and has since commissioned detailed clinical guidelines for how children are to be evaluated prior to transitioning. 

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