Care needed

Grave doubts have been raised about the testing and evaluation of medicines used in the treatment of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents. Most evidence for such drug use is based on adult studies.

Children are not small adults and their changing body composition requires extremely careful treatment. Their physiology creates unique challenges that increase risks and off-label drug use may have serious, life-threatening consequences.

Given the paucity of evidence, medical intervention amounts to an unregulated, live experiment on children. Psycho-social reasons behind the desire to change gender must be fully examined before such irreversible procedures are initiated. (REV DR) JOHN CAMERON

Howard Place, St Andrews