Court’s ruling on puberty blockers ‘protects teens’
Keira welcomes drugs victory
A HIGH Court ruling will make it much harder for children to be given drugs to stop puberty.
Keira Bell, 23, one of the claimants who brought the legal action, said the judgment will “protect vulnerable children”.
She added: “I wish it had been made before I embarked on the devastating experiment of puberty blockers.”
Keira has claimed she was not challenged on her belief at the age of 16 that she wanted to transition to male.
She began puberty blockers at that age, then cross-sex hormones at 17 and had a double mastectomy. She has since changed her mind and is “detransitioning”.
Lawyers for another claimant said there is “a very high likelihood” children who take the blockers will later take cross-sex hormones, which they said cause “irreversible changes”.
The judgment said it is “doubtful” anyone aged 15 would understand the full consequences of the blockers. NHS England said under- 16s will now only be referred for the drugs if a court rules it is in their best interests.
Trans children’s charity Mermaids called it an “unforgivable betrayal of young people’s rights to autonomy over their own bodies”. The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, which runs the UK’s only gender identity service for children, said it is “disappointed” by the judgment and will appeal.
The clinic in London has paused all new referrals of children wanting blockers.
The NHS said: “We welcome the clarity which the court’s decision brings.”