Thread by @4th_WaveNow

Amazing news out of the UK today, where the High Court ruled children cannot meaningfully consent to what was deemed experimental puberty blocker treatment. #KeiraBell

Now it's time for the (far more extreme) "affirmative care" industry in the US to face a similar ruling.

https://twitter.com/Transgendertrd/status/1333754766866964480

"In short, the treatment [puberty blocking] may be supporting the persistence of GD [gender dysphoria] in circumstances in which it is at least possible that without that treatment, the GD would resolve itself."

Full court decision here: #KeiraBell

judiciary.uk/wp-content/upl…

Judge raises concern about children on the autism spectrum & with other mental health issues. "We found this...apparent lack of investigation of this issue surprising." #KeiraBell

Judge calls attention to the uptick in girls seeking treatment: "The defendant did not put forward any clinical explanation as to why there had been this
significant change in the patient group over a relatively short time." #KeiraBell

Testimony from an expert on adolescent brain development. #KeiraBell

"...the complex, emotionally charged decisions required to engage with this treatment are not yet acquired as a skill at this age, both in terms of brain maturation and in terms of behaviour.”

This strikes at the heart of the debate: Claim is blockers are "reversible" but nearly every child on PBs proceeds to cross hormones. So in practice kids use immature judgment to make decisions w/lifelong implications (e.g. fertility/impact of transition on adult relationships).

More from the judge on "reversibility" of puberty blockers.
#KeiraBell

"The young person will have missed a period...of normal experience through adolescence...and that missed development ... can never be truly recovered or "reversed."