The Cass Review- Interim Report

[rogdmum]

The Cass Review Interim Report has been released. 112 pages long and it’s such a bloody relief to read common sense.

cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/

There’s so much in it, but emphasis on taking a holistic approach with a great chart on page 57 showing the complex presentations in and complex pathways.

And social transitioning has been recognised as an active intervention!

“Social transition – this may not
be thought of as an intervention or treatment, because it is not something
that happens within health services. However, it is important to view it as an active intervention because it may have significant effects on the child or young person in terms of their psychological functioning. There are different views on the benefits versus the harms of early social transition. Whatever position one takes, it is important to acknowledge that it is not a neutral act, and better information is needed about outcomes.” Pages 62/63

So much in it. So much. And there’s more to come as the review continues to work on the issues.

@DomesticatedZombie

It’s a very fawning statement and I seriously think these lobby groups have finally realised they are no longer calling the shots and so need to play nicely if they want any of their views to be heard.

Yes, indeed. I wondered how they'd take it - no outrage, no fury. I think things have tipped too far and we're into rats/ships and damage limitation.

I think in the background they are spitting nails. 😁

@Ereshkigalangcleg

Yes, I noted that. And I'd like to correct him - child safeguarding IS everyone's business, as most people understand quite well without getting all defensive about it.

Indeed.

The care of this group of children and young people is everyone’s business.

It's a variation on UNICEF and every other agency that wants us to accept: Children Are Everyone's Business Protecting Children Is Everybody's Business and Safeguarding Children Is Everybody's Business

Frankly, we need this, and variations on it, written in the sky and a light show that states this on every public building.

Hang the cost.

@rogdmum the first time your toddler realises that "no" means "no" is when you figure out if you're in for Terrible Tantrumming for a couple of years.

If you don't hear a firm "no" before you got to adulthood and set up a charity and are making your money from principles which are built on bollocks - well, I reckon we're going to see some spectacular tantrumming.

James Kirkup wrote a piece about the Cass Report.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-problem-with-the-uk-s-transgender-clinic

@Artichokeleaves

These seem inherently contradictory.

When a speaker appears to simultaneously state several contradictory views, the reason will be that both or all views serve another overarching coherent purpose. It's a case of identifying what this overarching purpose is. That overarching purpose is why the speaker does not appear troubled by the contradictions or the confusion involved: both are said to serve this purpose and represent their truth, so both to them can seem true at the same time.

And the kids are caught in the cross fire.

The whole ideology is inherently contradictory.

There is a highly intelligent young person dear to me who is caught in this, and the cognitive dissonance further damages their already fragile mental health. I'm just glad that so far we have been able to keep them physically safe. This report has given me hope that when they leave the family home (to go to a university which is a hotbed of Stonewalled trans activism and ideology) the physical harm will no longer be as readily available to them.

I know binders and drugs will still be accessible, but not openly and officially. This YP is too anxious and rule-driven to do anything illegal. (Unsurprisingly, they are awaiting assessment for ASD.)

Is it OK if I suggest fan mail to Dr Cass/review group for this report?

Email address on this page.

cass.independent-review.uk/about-the-review/the-chair/

I am so heartened by this interim report. And I’m one of the GC women who became so by reading the excellent posts on this very board. Thank you all, and Justine and mumsnet. I’m going premium.,

James Kirkup talks,a lot of sense. My thanks also to Justine and Mumsnet

'It clearly recognises that under the current model, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse young people across the UK face unacceptable delays in accessing health care and that these barriers must be addressed at a system-wide level through improvements and investment across the health service.'

What Cass actually said is we don't know what causes gender dysphoria. She didn't say 'gender diverse young people', she didn't say 'trans young people' and she didn't say 'non-binary young people'. She said 'gender questioning young people' and clearly indicated that the symptom of gender-related distress may be multi-causal.

@tabbycatstripy

'It clearly recognises that under the current model, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse young people across the UK face unacceptable delays in accessing health care and that these barriers must be addressed at a system-wide level through improvements and investment across the health service.'

What Cass actually said is we don't know what causes gender dysphoria. She didn't say 'gender diverse young people', she didn't say 'trans young people' and she didn't say 'non-binary young people'. She said 'gender questioning young people' and clearly indicated that the symptom of gender-related distress may be multi-causal.

It's almost like facts don't matter...

@OvaHere that James Kirkup article is excellent. Look forward to Janice turner's piece on it soon. I also was unaware of the high number of looked after children being seen by GIDS, that horrified me.

Mermaids have released a statement

mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/the-cass-review-interim-report-mermaids-statement/

"the Review emphasises that puberty blockers are not experimental"

They have changed their tune. 'Exploratory approach' - isn't that what people have lost their jobs for supporting?

And 'supporting a young person's understanding of who they are' isn't exploratory. An open-minded approach is exploratory. You don't necessarily tell the child they are wrong, but by calling them 'trans young people' you are telling them they are trans.

Cass doesn't do that. She says 'gender questioning'.

Also, doing nothing can't be seen to be neutral because it is an act of ethical agency - it will have an outcome. That outcome might be good or it might be bad. An exploratory, diagnostic approach means you don't take a view on that before you have the evidence in front of you.

Tavistock gender clinic not safe for children, report finds

England’s only specialist service for young people who identify as transgender is criticised in an NHS report

Keira Bell, a former Tavistock patient, began taking puberty blockers at 16 and by 20 had undergone a double mastectomy. She now regrets the transition and lives as a lesbian woman

BETHANY CLARKE FOR THE TIMES
Lucy Bannerman

Thursday March 10 2022, 12.01am, The Times

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tavistock-gender-clinic-not-safe-for-children-report-finds-w0ngnjnnf

@Thingybob

Mermaids have released a statement

mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/the-cass-review-interim-report-mermaids-statement/

"the Review emphasises that puberty blockers are not experimental"

That is an excellent bit of spin

@Thingybob

Mermaids have released a statement

mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/the-cass-review-interim-report-mermaids-statement/

"the Review emphasises that puberty blockers are not experimental"

The weasel rewording is a strong signal that they're banking on their supporters not consulting the original report but to take it on their word.

Which is how they've managed to be so successful and to have such a pernicious effect on the lives of so many young people.

The weasel rewording is a strong signal that they're banking on their supporters not consulting the original report but to take it on their word.

Leading supporters down a path that you've misrepresented is not going to stand them in good stead.

Their days are numbered.

Can anyone at Mermaids actually read? How can the sit and write what they have?

They're used to telling outright lies.

Their incomes depends on spinning this their way.

Also, when Cass says gender questioning young people deserve, but are not receiving, the same standard of care as everyone else, yes, this means wait times, but it also means the precise lack of proper differential diagnosis, safeguarding and recording of properly informed consent that Mermaids have been pushing for donkey's years. They're the weak link.

@tabbycatstripy

Also, when Cass says gender questioning young people deserve, but are not receiving, the same standard of care as everyone else, yes, this means wait times, but it also means the precise lack of proper differential diagnosis, safeguarding and recording of properly informed consent that Mermaids have been pushing for donkey's years. They're the weak link.

And evidence-based care. Of which there is none, as @rogdmum has pointed out.

@tabbycatstripy

Also, when Cass says gender questioning young people deserve, but are not receiving, the same standard of care as everyone else, yes, this means wait times, but it also means the precise lack of proper differential diagnosis, safeguarding and recording of properly informed consent that Mermaids have been pushing for donkey's years. They're the weak link.

How do wait times for Tavistock compare to wait times for CAMHS?

@Datun

The weasel rewording is a strong signal that they're banking on their supporters not consulting the original report but to take it on their word.

Leading supporters down a path that you've misrepresented is not going to stand them in good stead.

Their days are numbered.

It's pretty much their MO.

Leopard, spots.

I would say more than one thing about this. I would say that people who work at GIDS are a huge part of what has come out of this report - it's not a question of brave Dr Cass fighting the Tavistock, but clinicians at the Tavi with concerns finding someone with a remit and credibility who had sway over their managers finally listening to them. Also this is absolutely not about ending the use of transition as a treatment. At the moment, in society as it is now, transition genuinely does make life better for a subset of children. Why that should be is as much for the members of MN to think about as for Mermaids. There are parents dealing with this right now. Like most if us I hope this report will help those in that situation.