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The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for the ban on puberty blockers for under-18s to be lifted.<\/p>\n
The doctors\u2019 union also wants a pause on the implementation of a landmark review into gender care for children and young people.<\/p>\n
It said it wanted to undertake an evaluation of the Cass Review after academics expressed concern about its approach.<\/p>\n
The review, commissioned by NHS England, called for a move away from medical interventions for children struggling with their gender identity and advocated a more holistic model incorporating better mental health support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It took four years to carry out and was widely welcomed by the medical establishment in the UK.<\/p>\n
The review was led by leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass and prompted the last government to ban the use of puberty blockers for under-18s questioning their gender \u2013 a move which was then supported by Labour when they won the election. <\/p>\n
These drugs suppress the natural production of hormones and delay the onset of puberty.<\/p>\n
The ban applied to private clinics, because the NHS had already stopped using them outside of clinical trials, and was challenged in the High Court by campaign group TransActual.<\/p>\n
But a judge ruled earlier this week that the ban was lawful.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The BMA said members of its Council, its top decision-making body, voted in favour of a motion last month that was critical of the Cass Review and called on the union to “publicly critique” it.<\/p>\n The BMA said it was concerned about its impact on transgender healthcare provision because of its “unsubstantiated recommendations”.<\/p>\n