Article in paediatric doctor's magazine

[Jellyjunction]

The RCPCH (Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health) have a magazine that gets sent to all UK paediatric doctors, I think 4 times a year.

The current edition has an article by the director of professional and educational services at Gendered Intelligence (who is an artist by background, with a degree in engineering, not a doctor).

It promotes paediatricians unquestioningly affirming trans and gender questioning young people. It also discusses confidentiality to the young person around their gender identity.

I think it is wrong to have such a one sided viewpoint presented without any reference to the Cass review which says that social transition is not a neutral intervention.

I am troubled by paediatricians being influenced by the gendered intelligence lobby group. Other articles in the magazine are written by doctors and nurses, so I'm not sure why this was commissioned.

I want to write a response - help!

Not a safeguarding issue eh?
Dr David Bell was very clear about the levels of co-mobidities and trauma in these children.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09yk7dh

The hiding this incredibly serious matter from parents will undermine trust in a big way. Its unethical.

Have any guidelines come out to stop schools doing this, that could be applied?

Interestingly I let my daughter self approve her vaccinations as she was 17. They rang me TWICE to check I also approved. But if she'd decided to change her name /pronouns they'd be hiding it from me?

Legally children can not change sex. Doctors absolutely should not be putting them in the spaces of the opposite sex. Whilst I think compromises in terms of third spaces might need to be used.

How DARE gender intelligence do this. The arrogance of them.

www.theguardian.com/society/2022/may/27/attorney-general-says-schools-do-not-have-to-accommodate-childrens-gender-wishes

The Cass Report clearly says using new names /pronouns (social transitioning) is not a neutral act. I guess drs are in a tricky position and would want to make their patent at ease.

They must be absolutely careful that biological sex is not confused on any paperwork etc as this could have dangerous consequences. Surely.

Thanks for taking this on OP.
Gendered Intelligence need to go down the toilet with Mermaids.

Sorry for the multi rant.
I really hate GI

Gendered Intelligence is one of the many adult trans groups who are over keen on ensuring that children are socially and chemically transitioned at the earliest possible opportunity. They have no business weighing in on child health care - especially after all the revelations about the unethical medical experimentation that's being carried out on children.

It's so frustrating. Hilary Cass is the ex president of the RCPCH. (she was coincidentally followed by Russell Viner who is a paeds endocrine Dr who was principle investigator in the delayed GIDS outcomes research that was only published after they were criticised in the Bell vs Tavistock case).

How did we get to this place where the Royal college of paeds is ideologically captured. Urgh.

I agree i think recently the tory government said schools shouldn't keep pronoun choices from parents. But doctors and children /young people have a different relationship in law. Fraser (gillick) competence is related to consent for treatment though, and it is very unclear if it would apply to pronouns. As you say, paediatricians are keen to put their patients at ease but this must be done responsibly with awareness of the bigger picture in my view.

I agree with you that a young person with a trans identity wanting to keep that secret from their parents would raise safeguarding concerns for me. The rates of sexual abuse in these young people is much higher than average. There are also higher rates of autism which can often make young people more vulnerable.

Don't apologise for the rant, it's great to hear from someone!

Does the magazine have a twitter account associated with it?

Hmm his LinkedIn profile doesn't really explain his experience and qualifications. A masters in engineering in the 80s and a BA in Fine Art in the early 00's. Where is the experience or qualifications? Where else has he worked? He only lists his role at Gendered Intelligence and the two degrees under experience.

His "about" section for those who don't go internet stalking.

Providing highly rated trans and gender diversity awareness training and consultancy for a wide range of commercial, statutory and not-for-profit organisations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. 
Collaborating on innovative approaches to inclusion in diverse settings; finding creative solutions to inclusion-related issues.
Clients include Stonewall, the Welsh Assembly, the Science Museum, Royal Mail, Barbican, Tate, British Gymnastics, local authorities, schools, colleges and universities, and many others.

Again, nothing to explain how he became qualified to advise on these issues.

I am involved with a sort-of similar organisation to RCPCH (wish I could say more!). I am waiting for this topic to rear its head in our Newsletter and still don't know if I'll be brave enough to say anything when the time, inevitably, comes.

@Jellyjunction sorry, no useful advice but I completely get your frustration and definitely think it's worth contacting them about the article. (I note the current Editor of Milestones is Paediatric Mental Health Lead at his Trust.)

Not that I can see, latest edition promoted via the main RCPCH account

twitter.com/RCPCHtweets/status/1628348916843307011?t=60c0m0hAb93qQLxE-_w2WA&s=19

Your points about social transition, and the clash between their published article and the Cass review are obviously worth raising. If the whole organisation is captured, it’s going to be very difficult to get anything done about this. Enormously frustrating when some senior doctors, and especially paediatricians are so unquestioning about an ideology that defies biology.

Are there any senior paediatricians who have put their heads above the parapet to offer some leadership on this?

I've just been looking at that account, they seem to have tweets highlighting particular articles but I've not seen one for that article.

At least one twitter user isn't happy with it

twitter.com/EsioTrotReturns/status/1633094525622132740?s=20

I’ve never understood the ‘affirming’ approach. Surely the approach should be exploring why someone feels the way they do, and letting them take the lead with how they feel while keeping in mind that might change over time. All the while their sex is a constant.

Fucking helll