UK Supreme Court judge upholds government ban on puberty blockers

BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press

21 minutes ago

LONDON (AP) — A Supreme Court judge on Monday upheld the British government’s emergency ban on puberty blockers, saying a study showing “very substantial risks and very limited benefits” of the treatment supported the restriction as potentially harmful.

Judge Beverley Lang said a review commissioned by England’s National Health Service concluded that gender care was an area of ​​”remarkably weak evidence” and that young people were caught up in a “stormy social discourse”.

The group TransActual and a young person who cannot be named under the court order sought to challenge former Health Minister Victoria Atkins’ decision to ban puberty blockers, which can halt the development of puberty. They are sometimes prescribed to help children with gender dysphoria by giving them more time to consider their options.

The NHS stopped prescribing puberty blockers last year, saying there was not enough evidence about their benefits and harms.

Although the ban was introduced by the Conservative government, which was ousted earlier this month, the new Labour government could make it permanent.

Health Minister Wes Streeting said he welcomed the ruling, saying he was working with the NHS to set up a clinical trial of puberty blockers.

“Child health care needs to be evidence-based,” Streeting said. “So we need to be cautious and careful when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people.”