Anthony Albanese is being urged to replicate a landmark British review into interventionist medical treatments that enable young children to change gender, amid increasing concern that puberty blockers may cause serious harm. The National Association of Practicing Psychiatrists (NAPP) has urged the federal government to facilitate a national independent investigation into the use of treatments including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, warning their use should be approached with caution. The calls come after the release of a National Health Service (NHS) review which found the entire field of medicine aimed at enabling children to change gender was “built on shaky foundations”, with review chair Dr Hilary Cass finding there was no good evidence to support the practice of prescribing hormones to halt puberty. Pressure on the Prime Minister to act on the findings is growing in Australia with the federal opposition saying the results were “concerning” and should be taken seriously.
In response to the interim findings of the Cass review following an extensive examination of the care being provided to children at London’s Tavistock clinic, British health authorities announced a ban on the routine prescription of puberty blockers to young teens. While stopping short of advocating for a national ban, NAPP president Philip Morris said doctors had an ethical duty to assess the patient and determine what is safe rather than simply giving them what they ask for. Professor Morris said the evidence supporting the benefit of the treatment was “very limited” and called on the commonwealth to facilitate a national inquiry into gender-affirming-based medical care versus a more cautious approach. Gender-affirming care is a medical approach in which a child’s perceived gender is unquestioningly endorsed by doctors. It sometimes results in the prescription of puberty blockers to “pause” development, and later cross-sex hormones to transition sex. Academic psychiatrist Dr Andrew Amos says recent reports into gender identity will be looked back on as… “incredibly important”.
“The doctor has to identify if what the child is asking is appropriate for them, and to do that they have to determine whether the requested treatment has got substantial benefit and that benefit has been demonstrated by properly conducted trials,” Professor Morris said. “In addition, the doctor has to be convinced that the patients can really make informed consent, know all the pros and cons and are capable to make a decision on what will be a profound change. “We need to be very cautious … we are asking states and the federal government to hold an independent inquiry so each of the states has the best path forward.” In Australia, “puberty blocker” treatments are not subsidised for children who suffer from gender dysphoria, as they were in Britain. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the Cass review was a “significant report in an area where best practice and research is continuing to emerge”. “Everyone, including the states and territories who are responsible for these services in Australia, will take the time to consider this review which has just been released,” she said.
Source: Compiled by APN from media reports
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