Dr Michael Webberley

[DomesticatedZombie]

• haven't had a chance to keep an eye on his tribunal, but from what I'm reading:

'Dr Michael Webberley applied for voluntary erasure from the GMC register. The Tribunal say it is "unfortunate" that was not determined prior to the hearing today.

MW had two requests for postponement declined & has now provided new medical evidence for an adjournment'

twitter.com/tribunaltweets2

@tabbycatstripy
'Gillick doesn’t seem like the problem. The treatment is shit, and the medical care being provided is worse.'

Yep, pretty much.

This is shocking - the more I read the worse it gets

The Bell findings said that medics could be pursued in civil courts, didn't they?

What's the threshold for criminal?

Actual Gillick isn’t a problem at all - clearly children below the age of 16 are able to consent to some medical treatments themselves, and not to others, and that needs to be carefully assessed on a case by case basis when there is no parental consent. That is all Gillick says. If the parents consent, as in this case, Gillick is irrelevant from a legal standpoint, though not necessarily from a “good medical practice” perspective.

The Tavistock-Bell case centred on Gillick because the Tavistock were insistent that they didn't and couldn't rely on parental consent for something this serious - the child needed to understand it, hence be Gillick competent.

So they did not use parental consent for what they were doing.

Although they then changed their minds on this for the appeal, and did argue that they didn't need the Gillick competency if doctors and parents agreed.

(I think that's accurate, it's been a while).

I was trying to find Something Sensible about how they use Gillick Competence with paeds oncology patients but Google is bullying me & being literally violent with search results

However, this 2015 article from the European Journal of Paediatrics was an interesting read: [[www.doc.rero.ch/record/332145/files/431_2014_Article_2462.pdf Decision-making capacity of children
and adolescents—suggestions for advancing the concept’s implementation in pediatric healthcare]]. I’d never really thought about the fact that there’s a total (as in global) lack of tools/frameworks for clinicians to use when assessing Gillick Competence*. Relying solely on the best judgement of clinicians puts a huge amount of [additional] stress on dedicated & diligent medics - & at the opposite end of the spectrum, allows absolute nightmare practice like that of Gender GP.

Towards the end of the article the authors point out that The way childhood and children’s position in society are conceptualized influences how they are perceived and shapes the broader framework in which assessments of DMC take place. (DMC here = Decision Making Capacity). Assessments for children (Jesus, children, should be a red flag not a green light) & teens wanting blockers [& cross-sex hormones] have been taking place in a socio-cultural context where childhood is under siege.

Children are being exposed to porn at ever-younger ages; girls of 14 are attending A&E with injuries sustained the first time they try having sex because [they &] their boyfriend think violent porn’s a “How To… guide; rates of sexual assault by peers in primary school are rising; girls are ashamed of having their period (61% of them according to Always, unless they did indeed go all equal opportunities & talk to the boys & truly mean “61% of people” ); there are girls who’ve never posted an unedited photo of themselves to social media; people with eating disorders (admittedly this happens with adult services too) get told their BMI is too high for them to be treated; schools have been teaching children regressive gender stereotypes as absolute truth & pretending biology isn’t really a thing; girls are being encouraged to consider Only Fans & general cam-work as Good Choices to help fund their place at university; there is absolutely social pressure on children & teens to be “other” in some way, & there is social capital in belonging to an oppressed/minority group; and “trans children” are being ruthlessly exploited by campaign/pressure groups who continue to trot out That Suicide Stat & make shameless-baseless claims about how vulnerable trans people are.

Obviously nothing in medicine happens in a vacuum - but we’re seeing here just how dangerous the lack of framework for determining Gillick Competence can be when culture & society are pushing a certain way.

• and/or international equivalents

Somebody mentiioned upthread that Gender GP are not tweeting much. I'm sure that will soon change when they recruit their new head of content. 'Highlights' of the current job ad here:

'Are you passionate about disrupting the status quo in healthcare, transgender and non-binary healthcare, Telehealth, and HealthTech?'

'We are on a mission to build an on-demand healthcare ecosystem without discrimination, prejudice or gatekeeping for the global transgender and non-binary community, and we’re looking for an extraordinary Head of Content to align our content strategies and narrative decisions with the business vision and message. We’re about to invest in creating seamless digital experiences for our audience & customers and need a strong leader for our content team of 5 to deliver extraordinary, high-impact content.'

Job comes with pension, health insurance and a fast-track passport to Wormwood Scrubs.

The salary is £80-100k. They have some serious money in that business.

Their strapline is 'ready to disrupt the healthcare status quo?' like experiments are a bit of 'high jinx'.

This is so depressing. Will mainstream media report at some point? More people need to know what has been/is going on.

@tabbycatstripy

Job comes with pension, health insurance and a fast-track passport to Wormwood Scrubs.

🤭

Job description.

Essential criteria:

• Medical experience preferable but not required

• Demonstrate a disregard for record keeping and/or note taking: precision is not required. We need someone to help us move away bureaucracy.

• Should be able to demonstrate excellent insight into how important hormones are for everyone and not show any bias based on someone's gender when prescribing

• Must be enthusiastic about ignoring present consent models

• Demonstrate a sound understanding that values and ethics differ for our clientele group and be prepared to be bold and brave by working against the grain.

• A track record of risk taking and ability to strongly rebuff any criticism.

• Court/tribunal experience is desirable.

an on-demand healthcare ecosystem without discrimination, prejudice or gatekeeping for the global transgender and non-binary community

On-demand healthcare with no gatekeeping. What could possibly go wrong?

Is it just me, or does this have echoes of Action for Trans Health's manifesto, only put through a marketing rinse?

@DomesticatedZombie

an on-demand healthcare ecosystem without discrimination, prejudice or gatekeeping for the global transgender and non-binary community

On-demand healthcare with no gatekeeping. What could possibly go wrong?

Isn't that how the Opiate epidemic exploded in the US?

I don't know anything about that at all, WeeDonkey!

This really is horrifying to read.

Obviously it's clear why MW isn't attending - this is literally indefensible surely? Does anyone know if his lack of attendance/refusal to engage will have any bearing on the case/outcome?

I am another one wondering about possible criminal implications from this. I am thinking of Ian Paterson - IIRC, he received a long sentence for carrying out unjustifiable medical procedures and I can't remember the exact details but there seems to be a lot of similarities here, especially the "profit before patients" aspect.

I also wonder what the implication may be for the parents of these children, reading about the 9yr old and the assessments and the parental involvement there, is absolutely shocking.

So come on, where are the usual suspects who are all over other threads telling how blockers aren't a problem, kids aren't being put on them, etc?

Tell us how this is all OK, nothing to see here.

@NitroNine

I was trying to find Something Sensible about how they use Gillick Competence with paeds oncology patients but Google is bullying me & being literally violent with search results

However, this 2015 article from the European Journal of Paediatrics was an interesting read: [[www.doc.rero.ch/record/332145/files/431_2014_Article_2462.pdf Decision-making capacity of children
and adolescents—suggestions for advancing the concept’s implementation in pediatric healthcare]]. I’d never really thought about the fact that there’s a total (as in global) lack of tools/frameworks for clinicians to use when assessing Gillick Competence*. Relying solely on the best judgement of clinicians puts a huge amount of [additional] stress on dedicated & diligent medics - & at the opposite end of the spectrum, allows absolute nightmare practice like that of Gender GP.

Towards the end of the article the authors point out that The way childhood and children’s position in society are conceptualized influences how they are perceived and shapes the broader framework in which assessments of DMC take place. (DMC here = Decision Making Capacity). Assessments for children (Jesus, children, should be a red flag not a green light) & teens wanting blockers [& cross-sex hormones] have been taking place in a socio-cultural context where childhood is under siege.

Children are being exposed to porn at ever-younger ages; girls of 14 are attending A&E with injuries sustained the first time they try having sex because [they &] their boyfriend think violent porn’s a “How To… guide; rates of sexual assault by peers in primary school are rising; girls are ashamed of having their period (61% of them according to Always, unless they did indeed go all equal opportunities & talk to the boys & truly mean “61% of people” ); there are girls who’ve never posted an unedited photo of themselves to social media; people with eating disorders (admittedly this happens with adult services too) get told their BMI is too high for them to be treated; schools have been teaching children regressive gender stereotypes as absolute truth & pretending biology isn’t really a thing; girls are being encouraged to consider Only Fans & general cam-work as Good Choices to help fund their place at university; there is absolutely social pressure on children & teens to be “other” in some way, & there is social capital in belonging to an oppressed/minority group; and “trans children” are being ruthlessly exploited by campaign/pressure groups who continue to trot out That Suicide Stat & make shameless-baseless claims about how vulnerable trans people are.

Obviously nothing in medicine happens in a vacuum - but we’re seeing here just how dangerous the lack of framework for determining Gillick Competence can be when culture & society are pushing a certain way.

• and/or international equivalents

Excellent summary there, @NitroNine.

I think there is a transcribing problem in the long post by Domesticated Zombie. "What percentage of overall children would these 1,2 or 3 children be?" seems to come out of nowhere. 1, 2 or 3 what?

@HandsOffMyRights @DomesticatedZombie
'Ready to disrupt the healthcare status quo' and talk of a healthcare system without gatekeeping? Gatekeeping and boundaries are essential in medical practice. It's unsafe to 'queer' healthcare. But obviously profitable to smash boundaries and empower patients to get whatever they want or think they need, for a fee.

@NitroNine

I was trying to find Something Sensible about how they use Gillick Competence with paeds oncology patients but Google is bullying me & being literally violent with search results

However, this 2015 article from the European Journal of Paediatrics was an interesting read: [[www.doc.rero.ch/record/332145/files/431_2014_Article_2462.pdf Decision-making capacity of children
and adolescents—suggestions for advancing the concept’s implementation in pediatric healthcare]]. I’d never really thought about the fact that there’s a total (as in global) lack of tools/frameworks for clinicians to use when assessing Gillick Competence*. Relying solely on the best judgement of clinicians puts a huge amount of [additional] stress on dedicated & diligent medics - & at the opposite end of the spectrum, allows absolute nightmare practice like that of Gender GP.

Towards the end of the article the authors point out that The way childhood and children’s position in society are conceptualized influences how they are perceived and shapes the broader framework in which assessments of DMC take place. (DMC here = Decision Making Capacity). Assessments for children (Jesus, children, should be a red flag not a green light) & teens wanting blockers [& cross-sex hormones] have been taking place in a socio-cultural context where childhood is under siege.

Children are being exposed to porn at ever-younger ages; girls of 14 are attending A&E with injuries sustained the first time they try having sex because [they &] their boyfriend think violent porn’s a “How To… guide; rates of sexual assault by peers in primary school are rising; girls are ashamed of having their period (61% of them according to Always, unless they did indeed go all equal opportunities & talk to the boys & truly mean “61% of people” ); there are girls who’ve never posted an unedited photo of themselves to social media; people with eating disorders (admittedly this happens with adult services too) get told their BMI is too high for them to be treated; schools have been teaching children regressive gender stereotypes as absolute truth & pretending biology isn’t really a thing; girls are being encouraged to consider Only Fans & general cam-work as Good Choices to help fund their place at university; there is absolutely social pressure on children & teens to be “other” in some way, & there is social capital in belonging to an oppressed/minority group; and “trans children” are being ruthlessly exploited by campaign/pressure groups who continue to trot out That Suicide Stat & make shameless-baseless claims about how vulnerable trans people are.

Obviously nothing in medicine happens in a vacuum - but we’re seeing here just how dangerous the lack of framework for determining Gillick Competence can be when culture & society are pushing a certain way.

• and/or international equivalents

Excellent post @NitroNine Spot on with that 4th para

@tabbycatstripy

Job comes with pension, health insurance and a fast-track passport to Wormwood Scrubs.

@2Rebecca

I think there is a transcribing problem in the long post by Domesticated Zombie. "What percentage of overall children would these 1,2 or 3 children be?" seems to come out of nowhere. 1, 2 or 3 what?

Could be - I just copypasted the full unrolled thread. There are oftena few transcription errors when people are live tweeting. It would be good to get a recording but I don't think these are usually made?

I am another one wondering about possible criminal implications from this. I am thinking of Ian Paterson - IIRC, he received a long sentence for carrying out unjustifiable medical procedures and I can't remember the exact details but there seems to be a lot of similarities here, especially the "profit before patients" aspect.

What would be the process for instigating an investigation by the police? Could anyone report MW?

I don't know any more than what is in the tweets, but I think the 1, 2 or 3 children is comparing that number to the total number of referrals to the Tavistock:

How many patients are referred annually to Tavistock? What percentage of overall referral rate would those 1,2 or 3 children be.

So if there were 100 total referrals to the Tavistock, then one child would be 1% of the total. I have no idea why this is relevant though.