Northern Ireland pauses involvement in UK puberty blocker trial

[SingleSexSpacesInSchools]

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/exclusive-mike-nesbitt-pauses-northern-irelands-involvement-in-controversial-uk-puberty-blocker-trial-5598156

could be the crack needed.

👍

That is good news.

Really good news. It's a great article that carefully spells out the concerns. Why can't the BBC be this clear in their reporting?

"The drugs block normal physical development, and their use has been backed by Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP in the past – and described as “gender affirming care”.
A UK-wide review into gender medicine resulted in a ban on their routine prescription amid safety concerns.
The local review by Dr Hilary Cass this week highlighted safeguarding concerns – including “parental motivations” – which may drive social transitions of children “inappropriately”, requiring “careful assessment”."

I agree, it is a good article.

“That said, why can any trial not use those who have already been subjected to puberty blockers before the ban being examined to see what physical and psychological effect they have had on them; therefore protecting our children?”

Haven't we being saying that all along, thank god somebody's finally listen. Well done NI, shame on Wales & Scotland, and don't get me started on Westminster. 🤬

Absolutely

Safeguarding concerns include cases where parental motivations may drive social transitions inappropriately, necessitating careful assessment and family support.

5), p. 9
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/Cass%20Assessment%20report%20for%20Gender%20Identity%20Services.pdf

So glad to see this - even if it's only a pause - thanks for sharing the article which is really clear.
I note Doug Beattie's comment "....why can any trial not use those who have already been subjected to puberty blockers before the ban being examined to see what physical and psychological effect they have had on them; therefore protecting our children?”
Has anyone from the PB trial made any comment about this point?
Thanks

Glad people are pushing it. Because it does need an answer.

Also the recognition that a lot of these children are autistic, same sex attracted, some from the same school, etc.

Once you've selected out those participants, the ones whose parents are dodgy, the munchausen ones, the ones who are basing it all on sex stereotypes, and those from a traumatic sexual past, what are you going to be left with?

My guess is fuck all.

Archive
https://archive.ph/Zk86V

I mean, how long have we been asking that on here?

The author of the article is David Thompson, who made the Stonewall podcast with Steven Nolan on BBC Sounds. He left the BBC a while ago.

I'd like it most of all from the rainbow infested MPs who are gaily skipping along and shutting any dissent down with "bigot!"

How can they possibly argue that asking previous victims participants is a bad thing?

Of course Sinn Fein in NI are backing this trial - as are Alliance. Totally captured. Even though the Sinn Fein voter in Northern Ireland is totally not with them. The leader of Sinn Fein overall - the leader in the Republic of Ireland - has a trans brother (brother is a transwoman) and she recently told all women in Ireland to ‘cop on’ and stop complaining about transwomen. Any Sinn Fein politician who goes against this line of thinking is quickly brought back in line and forced to publicly apologise!!!

Alliance are targeting young floating voters and probably really believe this ideology.

It’s amazing that Unionists (mainly the conservative, staunchly religious ones) are the only ones who are in line with mainstream opinion!! Thank God for them. I only wish we had enough elected politicians in the Republic to save us from this dangerous ideology.

Also reported in the Times now:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/7bb036e8-8baf-4729-9470-d003b6e9ee10?shareToken=1d1eeaa5ea104587a1cf6bd47659ba4e

"This is intended to fill an evidence gap..."

Guinea Pigs 🤬

I just can't get my head around how that's ethical - it seems obvious to me [IANAME - I am not a medical ethicist] that the risks to participants outweigh the seriousness of the condition being studied - which most children just grow out of.

The Cass Review found that there was insufficient evidence that PBs were 'safe or effective'.

But hey, let's give them to a hundred or so kids anyway, what's the worst that can happen?

Well, if they turn out to be unsafe: Reduced bone density. Infertility. Mental health problems. A future enquiry into the ethics of how on earth this trial could have been allowed to go ahead. Litigation. Compensation...

But none of that seems to carry any weight.