Helen Webberley

[Signalbox]

Looks like Helem Webberley's substantive case has finally been listed for 26th July 2021

www.mpts-uk.org/hearings-and-decisions/medical-practitioners-tribunals/dr-helen-webberley-jul-21

Adults who are parents will almost always be best placed to tell their own children (especially if under 16) what will and won’t be happening. No to tattoos, no to leaving school, no to meeting that new friend from the internet who tells kids their parents are hateful and just don’t understand Trans.

"The Children Act 1989 is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament which allocates duties to local authorities, courts, parents, and other agencies in the United Kingdom, to ensure children are safeguarded and their welfare is promoted. It centres on the idea that children are best cared for within their own families; however, it also makes provisions for instances when parents and families do not co-operate with statutory bodies.

Parental responsibility is defined in the Act as "all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_Act_1989

In the UK The Children Act is core legislation which informs all Child Protection/Safeguarding frameworks.

Can I just ask when this case is likely to finish? In the link in the OP it says October 2021 but will it be sooner than that? I know nothing about legal stuff!

@Jackgrealishscurtains

Can I just ask when this case is likely to finish? In the link in the OP it says October 2021 but will it be sooner than that? I know nothing about legal stuff!

It's hard for them to be exact on a case like this but it could easily go until October. It's very complex with multiple witnesses and presumably also expert witnesses on both sides who probably won't agree with each other. Also multiple heads of charge covering a range of issues. And it sounds like she isn't admitting very many of the allegations so the GMC will need to prove each head of charge.

It will also probably take them a number of days to make the decision and write up the determination. And then they will have to decide on sanction etc.

Thanks Signalbox - wow so a lot to go through then.

For anyone interested there is an MPTS webpage that explains how the hearing works. There are 3 stages...

STAGE 1: finding of facts
The tribunal listens to all the evidence and reads any relevant documents, then decides if any of the alleged facts are proved on the balance of probabilities. The doctor can also admit to alleged facts at this stage.

If the tribunal decides the allegation is not proved, the hearing ends.

If the tribunal decides any of the alleged facts are proved, the hearing continues to stage two.

STAGE 2: impairment
The tribunal considers if the doctor’s current fitness to practise medicine is impaired – essentially, whether the doctor is safe to continue working in medicine and treating patients.

Its decision is based on the facts found proved by the tribunal and any further relevant evidence presented.

If the tribunal finds the doctor’s fitness to practise is not impaired, the hearing won’t continue to stage three. The tribunal may decide to place a warning on the doctor’s registration in this case. A warning does not restrict a doctor’s registration or right to continue treating patients.

If the tribunal finds the doctor’s fitness to practise is impaired, the hearing continues to stage three.

STAGE 3: sanction
The representatives for the doctor and the GMC can propose what they believe the appropriate sanction, if any, should be.

The doctor or their representative may also present evidence about the doctor’s character.

The tribunal must decide what action is necessary to protect the public. It can:

end the case with no further action
if appropriate, accept voluntary undertakings offered by the doctor
place conditions on the doctor’s registration for up to three years
suspend the doctor’s registration for up to one year
erase the doctor’s name from the medical register (except in cases that only relate to a doctor’s health or language capabilities).
If a doctor receives a suspension or conditions, the tribunal can order a review hearing (see below) to decide whether they can return to unrestricted practice or if a further sanction is necessary.

www.mpts-uk.org/witnesses/witness-guide-to-hearings/how-a-hearing-works

'Puberty Blocking' drugs are not licenced for this use.

As for the suggestion that middle-aged men, who have had kids and now decide they want to present in a way that culture stereotypes as feminine but don't want to make any physical changes to their bodies, should be the ones deciding that young girls should be sent on a pathway to infertility, life long drugs, mastectomies and surgical interventions with complication rates in excess of 80%....

The first three replies to the Webberley tweet linked above.

"I wish I had you as a doctor when I was younger as I would love to have transitioned"

Strange use of the past tense there suggestion they have not transitioned since nor want to, yet still see no issue?

Isn't it strange that if this "Dr" truly believed in the interruption of normal puberty, that she would be denying charges.

Surely she should be proud of her work as a pioneer for the oppressed.

But she isn't.

Danial Webb provides information about the three practising doctors employed by Gender GP,

"Roxana Matescu has been employed by GenderGP since 2019. According to Gender GP's own website, "Dr Mateescu [sic] leads the team on prescribing and is responsiblefor the clinical leadership in collaboration with the medical and support staff.

They are so please with Dr Matescu, they even made her a certificate

Dr Yasmeen El Rakhawy, from Egypt, "takes responsibility for the representation of clinical matters within the team and provides professional advice to management". Whatever that means. She got a certificate too!

Finally, Chloe Rogers is a FY1 doctor with a licence to practise, who is employed as a research assistant by GenderGP. She has yet to receive her certificate though."

twitter.com/DanialWebb/status/1415334634406223877

Chloe Rogers is a FY1 doctor with a licence to practise, who is employed as a research assistant by GenderGP.

Chloe Rogers website, '16point6: LGBTQ Inclusive Healthcare:
Building inclusive healthcare through medical education and practice'

"Sex and gender
(extract)
The definitions of sex and gender have changed a great deal over time. Accompanied by the changing understanding of human physiology, this evolution of language has presented the medical community with a challenge: to work outside of the binary. For a long time, the medical profession has relied on the binary system (male and female, man and woman) to separate groups of people and administer certain specific treatment regimens.

Sex is composed of several differences between this systemic binary of male and female – genitals, gonads, chromosomes, internal reproductive systems, hormones, and secondary sex characteristics. This may seem simple but given the wide variation of these factors within the human population, intersex variations, apparent ‘discrepancies’ in chromosomes and external genitalia in some individuals, how can we ascribe particular importance to one factor such that it is the one which determines an M or an F on our records? CN Lester talks about this in Trans Like Me: A Journey For All Of Us (2017).

Bodies have been sexed differently over time and in different cultural contexts, thus it is impossible to say that biology is sex and this is the absolute truth. Sex is socially constructed. (continues)

The fact that neither sex nor gender are stable entities or identities or categorisations highlights a problem in relying on either as a patient marker. There is no need, medical or otherwise, to package any of the above factors defining sex to be into boxes labelled male and female. It goes without saying that sometimes trans women and cis women will require different management plans based on biology and other individual needs. This can be done by working with the patient to ensure the best health outcomes for them rather than relying on a single letter on health records, which is at best incompetent and at worse damaging to the person’s health.

These concepts are not always easy to understand and we strongly recommend doing a bit of reading for yourselves to better understand your patients. Dr Ben Vincent, PhD, has written a very informative book, Transgender Health: A Practitioner’s Guide to Binary and Non-Binary Trans Patient Care (2018), that lays out a good explanation of sex and gender with regards to healthcare in chapter 2."

16point6.wordpress.com/the-basics/

H/t thespiralquirk via Twitter

I think there's a common misconception that kids are somehow being misdiagnosed or being encouraged to be trans. I don't think doctors or psychologists are rushing to diagnose anyone as trans. Quite the opposite. Perhaps if we had proper healthcare for all trans people, be they young or old, things would be better, and there would be no argument. Just let people work themselves out, and get on with their lives. Proper healthcare for children, as well as adults. It doesn't work that way in this country. Don't you think it would be good if trans people received adequate care? Instead, we have this endless problem, where no one will be happy

I think there's a common misconception that kids are somehow being misdiagnosed or being encouraged to be trans.

I think you haven’t read the details of Webberley’s case. No diagnosis necessary. Drugs supplied as long as payment can be made.

GenderGP have helped 10s of 1000s of Trans people, because the system doesn't. No one is trying to brainwash anyone, no one is trying to hurt anyone. They are providing healthcare that is desperately needed, cos the system can't cope, because it has been brought to its knees already, and will only get worse and worse. Not just for trans people, but for everyone

GenderGP have helped 10s of 1000s of Trans people, because the system doesn't.

How many clinical staff does it employ to be able to provide appropriate clinical care and follow-up to such numbers?

It's a lie. Believe me, no one gets hormones just for money. People are spreading lies, basically. The lies have to stop, the media, people on twitter are just spreading lies, cos they have an axe to grind. That's all it is, and it's so sad, but that's the way it is. Lots of things are based upon lies, £350 million for the NHS... that was a lie, this is no different.

GenderGP have helped 10s of 1000s of Trans people, because the system doesn't.

They are a business that sells drugs. If they wanted to help people they would be more wary of selling drugs that have long term irreversible effects without consultation.

Very importantly they wouldn’t encourage children to believe that life is not worth living without the drugs they supply or mislead about what the drugs can achieve.

Believe me, no one gets hormones just for money.

Evidence has been presented in this thread. Webberley has never said anything to suggest the evidence is wrong.

GenderGP have helped 10s of 1000s of Trans people, because the system doesn't. No one is trying to brainwash anyone, no one is trying to hurt anyone.

A number of the parents who promote Helen Webberley/Gender GP's affirmation approach have been open about their belief that NHS Tavistock GIDS is too cautious in providing drugs to block puberty and cross-sex hormones.

BBC Newsnight
'NHS child gender clinic: Staff welfare concerns ‘shut down’ - BBC Newsnight'
19 Jun 2020

Perhaps if we had proper healthcare for all trans people, be they young or old, things would be better, and there would be no argument. Just let people work themselves out, and get on with their lives.

Everyone on here wants proper health care for trans people - that is evidence-based medicine, proper research and followup, treatment of comorbid conditions, proper informed consent, accurate recording of sex in health records. Strangely transactivitist do not want this and do not want to just let children work themselves out but instead want to rush them through experimental treatment they are unable to consent to, which come with hugely harmful side effects. And decry any attempt to look at or treat comorbid conditions as 'conversion therapy'.

(well perhaps not everyone on here - weget visiting TRAs too)

It's a lie. Believe me, no one gets hormones just for money.

Telegraph
How children can order life-altering transgender drugs from their bedroom
Online healthcare clinic uses loophole to flout NHS rules and prescribe sex change drugs to under 16s without parental consent

By
Investigations team
26 February 2021 •

(extract)
An undercover Telegraph reporter posing as a 15-year old girl was prescribed testosterone – the male hormone, which is a controlled drug – after just two Skype appointments with counsellors and one Skype appointment with a doctor at the online clinic.

Staff never asked to speak to her parents nor demand proof that any adult knew of her plans to transition, beyond a single email from a 20-year-old half-brother confirming that he would pay for treatment.

Lead counsellor, Marianne Oakes, said they did not require her parents’ “permission”.

Staff accepted at face value the reporter’s stated belief that she was really male, telling her “we’re not worried about your truth because there’s no debate about that”. (continues)

The reporter, posing as a 15-year-old, received a prescription for a four-month supply of 'Testogel', during which time her voice could irreversibly deepen and facial hair start to grow.

It was signed by a doctor in Romania, who the Telegraph has identified as a geriatrician also trained in administering Botox. GenderGP does not offer patients the chance of an appointment with her, even though she authorises the medication. Instead they are directed to a doctor in Egypt, who told the reporter that it was “excellent” that, aged 15, she knew she never wanted to have children." (continues)
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/26/children-can-order-life-altering-transgender-drugs-bedroom/

It's a lie. Believe me, no one gets hormones just for money. People are spreading lies, basically. The lies have to stop, the media, people on twitter are just spreading lies, cos they have an axe to grind. That's all it is, and it's so sad, but that's the way it is

Telegraph
'Exclusive: Online clinic willing to prescribe sex change drugs to children without asking them to talk to doctor
GenderGP doctor tells reporters posing as parents of 12-year-old that he may be able to obtain drugs after appointments with counsellor'

By
Investigations team
28 February 2021 • 9:00pm

(extract)
"A controversial online clinic is willing to prescribe sex change drugs and puberty blockers to children without asking them to talk to a doctor, a Telegraph investigation has found.

A GenderGP doctor told undercover reporters posing as the parents of a 12-year-old that their son may be able to obtain the drugs after only a few Skype appointments with a counsellor.

Staff at the clinic admitted the puberty blockers could damage his bone density and there was too little clinical evidence to say whether they would affect his ability to have children.

However, they played down the potential negative impact and told the reporters that the 12-year-old could potentially start on puberty blockers within six weeks and cross-sex hormones within seven and a half months of signing up to the clinic.

GenderGP's doctor said the potential effect on the boy's fertility was the "very tiny part that is very sensitive" about taking the medication.

The clinic's lead counsellor told the reporters that if the 12-year-old took cross-sex hormones it would be "no different" to a post-menopausal woman going on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), despite the fact that they would prompt him to irreversibly develop breasts and could leave him infertile." (continues)
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/28/exclusive-online-clinic-willing-prescribe-sex-change-drugs-children/