Lionel Cliffhanger
Active Member
The independent review conducted by Hilary Cass of transgender care in England have published their final report. The findings are really disturbing for anyone who cares about the bodily integrity of our children.
- An appraisal of international guidelines for care and treatment of children and young people with gender incongruence found that no single guideline could be applied in its entirety to the NHS in England.
- While a considerable amount of research has been published in this field, systematic evidence reviews demonstrated the poor quality of the published studies, meaning there is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.
- The strengths and weaknesses of the evidence base on the care of children and young people are often misrepresented and overstated, both in scientific publications and social debate.
- The controversy surrounding the use of medical treatments has taken focus away from what the individualised care and treatment is intended to achieve for individuals seeking support from NHS gender services.
- The rationale for early puberty suppression remains unclear, with weak evidence regarding the impact on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health. The effect on cognitive and psychosexual development remains unknown.
- The use of masculinising / feminising hormones in those under the age of 18 also presents many unknowns, despite their longstanding use in the adult transgender population. The lack of long-term follow-up data on those commencing treatment at an earlier age means we have inadequate information about the range of outcomes for this group.
- Clinicians are unable to determine with any certainty which children and young people will go on to have an enduring trans identity.
- For most young people, a medical pathway will not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress. For those young people for whom a medical pathway is clinically indicated, it is not enough to provide this without also addressing wider mental health and/or psychosocially challenging problems.
- Innovation is important if medicine is to move forward, but there must be a proportionate level of monitoring, oversight and regulation that does not stifle progress, while preventing creep of unproven approaches into clinical practice. Innovation must draw from and contribute to the evidence base.
Final Report – Cass Review
cass.independent-review.uk
Basically we have been medicating children based on a 'fad'. Future generations will look back on what we have done and condemn us for child abuse.
It is horrific. It’s child abuse. People should be locked up.
Imagine losing your fertility and sexual function. Imagine being a parent that supported this for your child because you were lied to. It must be so unbearable that I bet many will not even be able to admit it to themselves.
The media has been terrible in not picking this up earlier or cheering it on. Same with celebrities too numerous to mention (but happy to list them!). Shame on them all.