The Queensland government in Australia paused access to hormone therapies for those under the age of 18.
The Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, directed Queensland Health Director-General David Rosengren to launch an investigation and clinical review into “gender-affirming” care. The review follows a previous analysis by the Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service (CHHHS), where “concerns were raised about apparently unauthorised paediatric gender services provided by the Cairns Sexual Health Service (CSHS),” a press release on the matter explains.
Nicholls said the CSHS “delivered an apparently unauthorised paediatric gender service without an agreed model of care. The service was delivered to 42 paediatric gender services clients, 17 of whom were prescribed Stage 1 or Stage 2 hormone therapy.”
Stage 1 hormone therapy involves puberty blockers, while Stage 2 hormone therapy involves “gender-affirming” hormones.
Nicholls explained that a review of CSHS “identified deficiencies relating to credentialling and scope of practice and medicolegal concerns relating to patient and parental consent.” He added that “clinical variation and delay was identified, including delayed blood tests or bone mineral density tests in some patients,” further explaining that “assessment, diagnosis and treatment may not have aligned with Australian treatment guidelines.”
The clinical review is expected to be completed by April 30, 2025. The investigation is due to be completed by June 30, 2025.
Other countries have reviewed hormone treatments for minors. In April 2024, Dr. Hilary Cass submitted a report to England’s National Health Service (NHS) regarding gender-related medical care for minors.
“There are few other areas of healthcare where professionals are so afraid to openly discuss their views, where people are vilified on social media, and where name-calling echoes the worst bullying behaviour. This must stop,” she wrote.
Discussing “gender care” for minors and young adults, Cass wrote there is “remarkably weak evidence” for transitions.
