The Travistock clinic in London has been under criticism for years because it is said to have uncritically treated children and young people with puberty blockers and urged them to have a sex change. Now the only British gender clinic for minors has to shut down.
The controversial north London clinic will soon have to close.
For some time now, the Travistock gender clinic in north London has been the focus of the debate on how society deals with trans people. The Children’s Health Center was established in 1989 to help minors under the age of 17 who are experiencing issues with their gender identity. In concrete terms, it is usually about children with gender dysphoria who were biologically born as boys or girls, but who internally feel that they belong to the opposite sex.
Travistock is the UK’s only gender clinic specializing in transgender children and has played a controversial pioneering role in the use of puberty blockers, which inhibit the production of sex hormones and thus halt puberty. Some of these drugs were given to children as young as 10 years old. In 2010, doctors across the country referred 138 minors to Travistock. In 2021 there were more than 5000 transfers – which led to long waiting times and reflects a trend that can also be observed in the USA and other European countries.
Pushed for sex change
Now the leadership of the British Health Service (NHS) decidedthat the Travistock Clinic will have to cease operations by 2023. The reason for the step is the ongoing criticism of the center’s methods, which led to significant security concerns.
In 2020, research by the TV show “BBC Newsnight” high waves. Clinic staff expressed concern that some of the underage patients were being pushed prematurely and uncritically in the direction of sex reassignment. In addition, representatives of lobby organizations of the trans movement apparently worked closely with the clinic, which is said to have contributed to this climate.
As a result, Hilary Cass, an independent pediatrician, was hired to examine the business. In a recently published interim report Cass not only castigated the out of control waiting times, but also accused the clinic of not keeping reliable long-term data on the young patients.
According to Cass, the clinic’s staff also feel under pressure to pursue an “uncritical, affirmative approach”. In contrast, in certain cases, doctors ignored other causes of the children’s and adolescents’ difficulties, such as mental illness or autism spectrum disorders.
Holistic approach
The controversial clinic is now to be replaced by regional hubs that are affiliated with children’s hospitals. On the one hand, this is intended to shorten waiting times, which trans activists also welcome. On the other hand, the young patients in these hubs should be cared for more holistically: The focus should also be more on possible psychological or physical complaints and no longer just on gender dysphoria.
According to some experts, it makes sense for adolescents with gender dysphoria to start treatment with puberty blockers as early as possible, as this makes later gender reassignment much easier. However, in her most recent report, pediatrician Cass concludes that important questions remain about the long-term effects of such interventions.
Some former patients, such as Keira Bell, who is now 25, have publicly stated that they regretted the procedures in retrospect. Bell was under treatment at Travistock as a minor. She was put on puberty blockers at 16, followed by testosterone injections at 18 before undergoing a double mastectomy at 20. This week she said speaking to the BBCthat she primarily needed psychological support and therapeutic support at the time.
Does the government intervene?
Three years ago, Keira Bell sued the Travistock gender clinic on the grounds that the doctors should have questioned her desire for a gender change much more. The British High Court ruled in late 2000 that under-16s were not in a position to consent to such far-reaching treatments. However, the Court of Appeals subsequently overturned the judgment due to the legal maxim that courts should not interfere in medical decisions made by doctors.
Boris Johnson’s successor as prime minister could soon intervene in the debate. In the Daily Telegraph on Friday Secretary of State Liz Truss said she firmly believes adults should be free to choose their lives, but children must be protected from irreversible choices. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, who is in final negotiations with Truss to succeed Johnson, said minors must be protected from life-changing decisions.
It is therefore conceivable that Great Britain will regulate the use of puberty blockers for children and minors more closely in the near future or even like recently Sweden – could stop.