What's happened
Scotland's Sandyford clinic has paused prescribing puberty blockers to young trans people under 18, following a review that found weak evidence for the benefits of youth gender treatments. The Scottish Government and NHS have halted new prescriptions of puberty-blocking drugs and hormone treatments for minors, aligning with recommendations from the Cass Review.
Why it matters
The decision to halt puberty blockers in Scotland is significant as it reflects concerns raised by the Cass Review about the lack of evidence for youth gender treatments. This move could impact the treatment pathways for young trans individuals and prompt a reevaluation of gender services in Scotland.
What the papers say
The Scotsman reports that the Scottish Government faced demands to implement recommendations from the Cass Review, while The Guardian highlights the pause in prescribing puberty blockers at Scotland's only gender identity clinic. The New York Times emphasizes the restrictive nature of Scotland's changes compared to other European countries.
How we got here
The decision to pause puberty blockers in Scotland follows a review by Dr. Hilary Cass, which raised questions about the evidence supporting youth gender treatments. The Sandyford clinic in Glasgow, the only service of its kind in Scotland, has announced the suspension of new prescriptions for young trans individuals.
Common question
More on these topics
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Hilary Dawn Cass OBE is a British medical doctor and a consultant in paediatric disability at St Thomas' Hospital, London. She was the President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health from 2012 to 2015.
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The National Health Service is the publicly funded healthcare system in England, and one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom.
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Humza Haroon Yousaf MSP is a Scottish National Party politician who has been Cabinet Secretary for Justice since 26 June 2018 and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok since 2016.
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The Scottish Government is the devolved government of Scotland.
The government is led by the First Minister, who selects the Cabinet Secretaries, who attend Cabinet, and Ministers with the approval of Parliament.