Two new Times articles on Tavistock and disciplinary action against David Bell (whistleblower)

[ahagwearsapointybonnet]

Here
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/judges-could-not-get-data-about-gender-treatment-783z5d9x8

and www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gender-clinic-whistleblower-faces-sack-rtkl09907

What other reason would or even could they have for not prescribing PBs?

Following a purely affirmative approach, assuming that gender dysphoria = must be trans (and any other issues, CSA, ASD, other MH diagnoses are just comorbidities, rather than aetiological factors, ignoring backgrounds of homophobic/sexist parental and cultural attitudes etc) - if a child asks for PBs to treat their gender dysphoria, under that paradigm, what other possible grounds could a clinician have to not prescribe them? These children are referred to the endocrinologist by a psychiatrist with a rubber-stamp of GD diagnosis derived from the affirmative approach - if you say you are, you are.

@Dogman

Wonder what they did with the £1.3m they got to track outcomes back in early 2019...

Excellent point.

It’s hugely problematic that the wheels are falling off because these children have nowhere else to go. There is nowhere that offers them the adequate treatment theydoneed because, like thousands of other children all around the country, mental health services for children are massively underfunded, understaffed and overloaded

Shame the money went on gender clinics and "training " rather than being invested in mental health care. We really cant keep knowingly hurting kids just because there's no other option though

It really is an appalling scandal.
This ruling surely must make some people stop and think.

Is it me or does the article about David Bell not actually say how/in what way he is facing the sack. The text doesn't support the headline. He's due to retire soon. The cj text that pp pasted in (thanks) makes it a bit clearer but it's still a bit vague.

I can see that he would need legal representation in his continued dealings with them. What he's done has been v important. The high court has just vindicated him tbh.

@Manderleyagain

Is it me or does the article about David Bell not actually say how/in what way he is facing the sack. The text doesn't support the headline. He's due to retire soon. The cj text that pp pasted in (thanks) makes it a bit clearer but it's still a bit vague.

I can see that he would need legal representation in his continued dealings with them. What he's done has been v important. The high court has just vindicated him tbh.

Its not you. It could be something unrelated, but the problem for the Tavistock is that he is a whistleblower who has been vindicated by the High Court, so ANY action against him will potentially look like harassment or like he is being deliberately targeted - potentially maliciously. However in raising funds for legal support it does specifically say that it is 'in connection with his speaking and writing on the subject'.

Mt best guess is that he's said something that they think violates privacy of a patient in some way.

Personally given the circumstances and unless he's named someone or given very identifiable information that will be a hard one to ultimately stick on him (and even if its the above it still will be) in the context of a medical malpractice and safeguarding scandal at the Tavistock given he's a key whistleblower.

It could be that the action is for an unrelated incident which is entirely fair and appropriate.

@squirrel99nz

Following this with interested from New Zealand - where I haven't seen a single media agency report on it...they are all too scared...

oh thats bad! I'm afraid that NZ with that weightlifter bloke seems to be rushing down the same path as Canda .

Heather Brunskill Evans was on Glinner’s podcast this week talking about the Keira case. She alluded to some stuff about Dr Bell and said she is doing some kind of online webinar/podcast/panel with him soon.

I wondered if his crowdfunder is somewhat preemptive, and he’s about to go fully public with his entire 2018 report, rather than just let out a few leaked details (which might’ve come from Marcus Evans, as it was his resignation over Bell’s report that was the news story of the time).

I was very grateful to Dr Bell for his contribution to the MCR detrans event, he is employed by the adult gender identity clinic (the GIC, colloquially known as ‘Charing Cross’, but this is a historical reference as it’s no longer part of the same trust as Charing Cross Hospital) at the Tavistock, not the paediatric service (GIDS) and he made it clear he was speaking in a personal capacity, but he was asking all the questions we were about why the spike? Why girls? What is happening in society to make it desirable for girls to opt out of femaleness? He, like us, had suspicions it was related to the rise of internet porn and other Forms of mainstream misogyny.

My stepdaughter was in the absolute throws of identifying as a boy at that time, and it was Keira, the other Detrans women, Dr Bell, Grace O’Malley and the other panel members (along with you lot!) that gave me the insights I needed to support DsD through it, whilst not affirming. She has now desisted and is absolutely blossoming into a confident, creative, expressive, same sex attracted not-actually-adult-but-thinks-she-is human female. It’s an absolute joy.

If the management at GIDS were like Dr Bell, there would be nothing for the parents of adolescent onset gender distressed girls to fear - we’d be able to access professional help and support to unpick the real issues. That this is not what’s happening makes GIDS unfit for purpose. The whole thing needs shutting down and redesigning from scratch.

Gender distressed children and adolescents need prompt and thorough psychosocial support, but no medical pathway until adulthood.
Take it off the table and the GIDS culture will have to change.

That’s so heartwarming to read Betty and really great to hear how well your stepdaughter is doing. Here’s hoping GIDS can make the changes to actually help and support children and young people going through this. Mermaids could return to it’s roots as well, it used to advocate watchful waiting. Otherwise it’ll go the way of Kid’s Company.

Thank you!

Lockdown was a goddess send. As was this place. I’m sure DsD will bring us other exciting adolescent challenges in future but the gender storm seems to have been weathered.

I’ve just started watching this brand new upload by Erin Brewer, felt the need to share it asap, it’s Marcus Evans, talking about his resignation as a governor at the Tavistock. Apparently he wasn’t even allowed to read Dr Bell’s report, as he was deemed too new an addition to the governing body!

Jaw dropped! And I didn’t think I could be surprised by any of this anymore!

Direct correlation to anorexia - in that some young people starve themselves because of anxiety, stress & in some cases as a way of putting off adulthood - maintaining childhood
I do not think enough objective research has been done in the mental health or neurological status (confusion & anxiety about maturity & role in society) or in the stability of the childhood background & family & whether this choice (! ) decisions was guided by the parents or as a rejection of them

Thanks for that YouTube link, @BettyDuKeiraBellisMyShero, it was so refreshing to hear two grown ups talking sensibly and with nuance on this vexed issue.

Thanks also to @rogdmum for the share tokens. I hope it's not jumping the gun to feel quite optimistic that common sense and ethical standards are on their way back to dealing with these troubled children.

@Tootsweets23

Polly Carmichael must be absolutely shitting herself.

I hope so. She damn well should be

And another article, about Helen Webberley. Sorry, I think my bargain basement subscription doesn't allow share tokens.

Online clinic will defy ruling on puberty blockers

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/online-clinic-will-defy-ruling-on-puberty-blockers-q8mjwsn38

There is a couple of telegraph articles up now as well. Can’t access them, but it looks like what I was hoping for is going to happen and the Sundays are going to be full of extended stories.

246 Young people in England currently on gender GO books!
246 young people being provided with illegal prescriptions and no oversight, no safeguarding.

Following the high court judgement criminal barristers have been instructed to consider if any criminal offences have been committed. And meanwhile the floodgates of of clinical negligence cases are open.

*Gender GP

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/16db5c54-36f3-11eb-861c-b713ee2a0069?shareToken=18baff8503d9c64c361185a07d88ae36