Doctors have quit the British Medical Association (BMA) in fury over the union’s opposition to the Cass review, labelling it “bonkers”.
Hundreds of members, including NHS leaders and former presidents of medical royal colleges, have voiced their “dismay” at union leaders for voting to reject the review that gave recommendations on gender identity services for children.
They allege that the union has been taken over by an ideologically driven “vocal minority”.
In April, a report by paediatrician Dr Hillary Cass found that young people had been “let down” by health services due to a lack of reliable evidence on how safe transitioning is for children.
Doctors are quitting the British Medical Association (BMA) due to a 'bonkers' trans stanceGettyThe BMA widely accepted its findings but said they would set up their own group to “publicly critique” the review, which contained recommendations they slammed as “unsubstantiated”.
The feud began on July 31 when the union’s council, an elected body composed of 69 members, announced it would lobby against its implementation of the review, which recommended stopping the prescription of sex hormones to young patients with gender dysphoria.
Critics slammed the decision as not representing the views of all members, critiquing the BMA’s “abysmal” leadership” which was becoming “increasingly bonkers and ideologically captured”.
Jacky Davis, a consultant radiologist and council member, told The Times: “This minority has voted to block the implementation of Cass, an evidence-based review which took four years to put together.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A report by paediatrician Dr Hillary Cass found that young people had been 'let down' by health services
PA“They have no evidence for their opposition. The Cass review is not a matter for a trade union. It is not our business as a union to be doing a critique of the Cass review. It is a waste of time and resources.”
An open letter calling for the BMA to accept the review’s findings has been signed by over 1,400 doctors, including 900 who are BMA members.
High-profile figures, such as professors and current presidents of medical royal colleges, have signed the letter which claims that the union’s bosses are “going against the principles of evidence-based medicine and against ethical practice”.
Vassili Crispi, a junior doctor who helped table the motion, said that “rejecting the Cass review is one of many steps we need to take”.
Critics slammed the decision as not representing the views of all members, critiquing the BMA’s 'abysmal leadership'
GETTYPuberty blockers are a kind of medicine which blocks the body's production of hormones which would, unmedicated, stimulate the biological changes which allow young people to go through puberty.
Professor Philip Banfield, the BMA’s chairman of the council, had previously said: “It is vitally important we take time and care to get this work right. This is a highly specialised area of healthcare for children and young adults with complex needs, and as doctors, we want to be sure they get the most appropriate care and the support they need.
“The task and finish group will make recommendations to improve the healthcare system that has, for too long, failed transgender patients. It will work with patients to ensure the evaluation invokes the old adage in medicine of ‘no decision about me without me’.
“It is time that we truly listen to this group of important, valued, and unfortunately often victimised people and, together, build a system in which they are finally provided with the care they deserve.”