Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Association of Clinical Psychologists criticise BMA on Cass

[fromorbit]

The BMA Council's unscientific vote on opposition to Cass has been slammed by two very important medical bodies. These are polite responses, what people are saying in private I suspect is rather more firm. Whatever the BMA comes up with is not going to have any better evidence - because there isn't any to be had. In fact it may be the BMA vote is going to backfire because it is forcing people to take sides. Strangely they look to be favouring the pro-science side.

Academy statement: Implementation of the Cass Review
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is mindful that some members of the medical profession are questioning the validity of the evidence and consequently the findings of the independent Cass Review of gender identity services for children and young people. Our view is that further speculative work risks greater polarisation on this matter which is not helpful and our focus should be on implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review by providing the most appropriate treatment for children and young people with gender dysphoria or gender related distress. It is important that treatment is holistic and based on strong and up to date medical evidence and the Academy continues to train clinicians on that basis. This means they can provide the best possible care to a group of often vulnerable children with confidence and compassion.
https://www.aomrc.org.uk/publication/academy-statement-implementation-of-the-cass-review/
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The Association of Clinical Psychologists UK notes the recently announced position of the BMA in relation to the Cass Review. ACP-UK is committed to the promotion of evidence-based health care. Whilst much yet remains unknown about how best to ensure good outcomes for this group of children, the Cass Review represents the best evaluation of the current state of the evidence, and ACP-UK continues to support the Review’s recommendations and their implementation.
In the absence of a robust evidence base, caution must be taken to ensure that any medical intervention for children is safe and that any interventions are based on a synthesis of the best available evidence. We welcome the invitation to work with other professional bodies to implement the recommendations of the independent Cass Review, to equip clinicians to support children holistically, psychosocially, and utilising evidence-based psychological interventions where available.

https://acpuk.org.uk/acp-uk-response-to-the-bma-in-relation-to-the-cass-review/

That's good news - thanks for sharing OP. With so many medics complicit in this scandal it's long overdue for the organisations to behave like professionals and prioritise safe evidenced medical care for children.

Excellent news, thank you fromorbit.
What with this and the Gs sane headline on Angela Carini, I'm coming all over a flutter.

It's probably in their interest to do this, they're a trade union and probably cba to represent those who may well need it in the future now the scales are falling away.

Article from Times. BMA members organise open letter.
( I don't understand why formatting doesn't work sometimes)

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/doctors-criticise-bma-for-resisting-ban-on-puberty-blockers-c6p85kbfl

At a meeting that critics described as secretive, the BMA’s governing council passed a motion calling for a “critique” of the Cass review and arguing it is discriminatory to stop prescribing sex hormones to children.But the decision angered medical leaders and doctors, including many of the union’s 195,000 members. They have organised an open letter saying that the BMA’s “unacceptable” stance “does not reflect the views of the wider membership”.The letter, addressed to Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the BMA, says: “We write as doctors to say, ‘not in my name’. We are extremely disappointed that the BMA council has passed a motion to conduct a ‘critique’ of the Cass review and to lobby to oppose its recommendations.“The passing of the motion was opaque and secretive. It does not reflect the views of the wider membership, whose opinion you did not seek. We understand that no information will be released on the voting figures and how council members voted. That is a failure of accountability to members and simply not acceptable.”The letter goes on to say that implementing the Cass review is essential to ensuring children get appropriate care, and it “is the most comprehensive review into healthcare for children with gender related distress ever conducted”.It urges the BMA to “abandon its pointless exercise” of critiquing the Cass review, adding: “By lobbying against the best evidence we have, the BMA is going against the principles of evidence-based medicine and against ethical practice.”

I'm honestly relieved that they have spoken out.

Next step - the BMA needs a serious investigation done to understand why they have been captured from within.

More details on the letter:

Hannah Barnes, New Statesman
Hundreds of doctors are challenging the BMA’s stance on puberty blockers

https://archive.is/LW0lw

Hundreds more have signed up since the letter went public apparently approaching 1000.

Any medical professional can sign. Your signature/details will be verified. Please share to anyone appropiate. Full details here:
https://notinournamebma.co.uk/

The anti-science approach has backfired on the TAs. Biology is real.

Currently scrolling through the list of signatories to see who I know - I am in a very 'be kind' specialty and generally not GC at work. Pleased to see some of the biggest names in my specialty have signed it.

Even more impressed that all the top signatories are from Psych, Paeds and Safeguarding.

Good for them. So pleased we are finally - finally - getting sunlight on this issue and that the TRAs are being shown up for the loons that they are. Devastating that so many vulnerable children had to go through hell for us to reach this point.

That's good to know. This scandal has been brewing for far too long with too many medics ignoring what's happening (just the same in other professions I hasten to add).
Maybe we're reaching that tipping point where professionals can no longer continue to pretend / ignore this massive child abuse scandal.