Denying kids access to hormones ‘goes against evidence’
Transgender advocates say a state government’s decision to deny children access to gender-affirming care goes against an evidence-based approach.
Queensland’s move to block children with gender dysphoria from accessing puberty blockers has been slammed as a contradiction to evidence and best clinical practice.
The Queensland government has immediately paused any new patients under 18 accessing gender-affirming care including puberty blockers and hormone therapies while a probe into the services is carried out.
Kids already on a treatment plan – nearly 600 in total – can still access the services.
The probe is set to investigate the use of hormone therapies in children and whether there should be more regulations on medical gender-affirming care.
However, transgender advocates claim suspending puberty blockers goes against evidence and best clinical practice.
You might like
“I’m shocked and disappointed that the decision is so in contradiction to the established Australian standards of care for gender diverse treatment,” Dr Portia Predny, Vice President of The Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, told ABC Radio National on Wednesday.
Gender-affirming care for young people has come under scrutiny globally with the controversial Cass review in the United Kingdom ultimately leading to the National Health Service restricting the use of puberty blockers in children.
Dr Predny argued that the Cass review was highly flawed and did not reflect the consensus of experts working in the gender-affirming care field.
“The majority of the critiques and changes that happened within the NHS gender services are totally irrelevant to the clinical landscape in Australia, our model of care here has always been holistic and person-centred,” she said.
Stay informed, daily
“It’s always involved a rigorous process of assessment.”
She said puberty blockers have been used for decades and not just for gender-affirming care but for precocious puberty and endometriosis as well.
“There’s ample evidence that supports these medications as being safe, effective and reversible,” Dr Predny said.
“All of the concerns that are being expressed about the safety of these medications are only being expressed in the context of gender-affirming care.
“None of the people who are loudly expressing concerns about puberty blocker safety is suggesting that access to these treatments should be banned for people with endometriosis, but they’re the same treatments and they have the same safety and risk profiles.”
Queensland’s review was sparked by international contention on the use of hormones and reports pediatric gender services were being given to children at the far north’s Cairns Sexual Health Service without proper medical support and parental consent.
The state government said a public interest disclosure was received regarding a 12-year-old being prescribed a puberty blocker without proper consultation in Cairns.
Multi-disciplinary consultation must be sought for all under-14s who want to start puberty blockers which involves input from psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians and family.
The Cairns service provided unauthorised care to 42 children with 17 of those prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapies, a Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service internal review found.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
