A former patient of Tavistock’s NHS gender identity clinic has said banning puberty blockers while allowing cross-sex hormone treatment is “irrational” and “unlawful”.
Keira Bell, who was put on puberty blockers aged 16, has applied for a judicial review of the government’s failure to ban the treatment amid fears it will cause “profound harm” to children.
Her lawyers issued a High Court claim, arguing that banning puberty blockers while still allowing hormone treatment was “irrational” and therefore “unlawful”.
Kemi Badenoch backed the move, accusing Health Secretary Wes Streeting of “doing nothing to prevent experimental drugs being given to vulnerable teenagers by unscrupulous, unregulated overseas clinics”.
Keira Bell, who was put on puberty blockers aged 16, has applied for a judicial review of the government’s failure to ban the treatment
PA
Puberty blockers are used to delay the onset of puberty by suppressing the release of hormones, while cross-sex hormones change the physical sexual characteristics of a person.
Bell, along with two unnamed claimants, argued that the effects of both drugs have a “profound and often irreversible” impact on children.
The claim said that although hormone treatment offers desireable changes such as growing facial hair and the lowering of the voice in biological girls, other effects can be dire.
Other effects described in the claim include a risk of infertility, enlargement of genitals, and the thinning and drying of the genital mucosal tissue “that may have severe implications on sexual functioning”.
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The claim referred to academic research published earlier this year that found that over 10,000 children in England had been diagnosed with some type of gender dysphoria.
Bell, 27, was put on testosterone in her teens and underwent surgery to remove her breasts.
She later detransitioned and sued the clinic, describing the treatment she received as “experimental at best, destructive at worst”.
She claimed medical professionals ignored her mental health problems and trauma.
In December Streeting announced a ban on puberty blockers for children because they pose an “unacceptable safety risk”
PACommenting on the legal action, Bell claimed that “unchecked clinics are prescribing these drugs to children based on an ideological way of thinking”, stating they “come with very serious, life-changing effects that will damage your health long-term”.
In December Streeting announced a ban on puberty blockers for children because they pose an “unacceptable safety risk.”
The NHS guidance on treatment for gender dysphoria reads: “From around the age of 16, young people with a diagnosis of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria who meet various clinical criteria may be given gender-affirming hormones alongside psychosocial and psychological support.”
They also said they are “putting in place additional safeguards to oversee the use of cross-sex hormones, including strengthened oversight from national clinicians”.
A Department of Health and Social Care Spokesperson said:“We continue to work with NHS England to implement the full recommendations from Dr Cass’s independent, expert review.
“This includes putting in place additional safeguards to oversee the use of cross-sex hormones, including strengthened oversight from national clinicians.”
