The Labour Party-led UK government announced it will uphold a ban on prescribing puberty blockers to minors, citing warnings from medical experts about “unacceptable” risks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting affirmed the decision Tuesday, emphasizing that children’s healthcare must be grounded in evidence and caution.
The ban follows findings from the Cass Review, a comprehensive report led by pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass, which highlighted the weak evidence supporting puberty blockers for treating gender dysphoria. The review noted significant risks, including unknown effects on cognitive and psychosexual development. The Commission on Human Medicines corroborated these concerns, deeming the current prescribing pathway unsafe for young people.
While the government will continue to bar the use of puberty blockers outside the National Health Service (NHS), they will permit their administration in controlled clinical trials starting next year. These trials aim to establish a robust evidence base for the use of such drugs.
This move delivers a significant setback to the transgenderism movement in the UK. Activists from the campaign group TransActual UK challenged the ban in court, claiming it was unlawful for the government to enact the prohibition through emergency legislation. However, the High Court upheld the legality of the measure.
Streeting confirmed plans to work with NHS England to develop new gender identity services after safety concerns led to the closure of the Tavistock Centre, previously the sole provider of child transgender care. The Centre faced scrutiny after numerous complaints about its practices and a lack of comprehensive safeguards.
Dr. Cass supported the government’s cautious approach, stating that puberty blockers should only be prescribed after thorough multidisciplinary assessments within research protocols. The indefinite ban underscores growing skepticism about the purported benefits of these treatments and prioritizes safeguarding vulnerable children.
