WEEKEND ESSAY

Giving puberty blocker to ‘trans’ children is a leap into the unknown

A landmark legal review will examine claims that confused young people are being subjected to a giant medical experiment, says Janice Turner

Callum Booth-Ford played the trans girl Maxine in the ITV drama series Butterfly, which was inspired by the story of campaigner Susie Green and her daughter Jackie
Callum Booth-Ford played the trans girl Maxine in the ITV drama series Butterfly, which was inspired by the story of campaigner Susie Green and her daughter Jackie
ITV
The Times

An 11-year-old child is probably years from his or her first kiss. Yet the drug they are about to take will almost certainly lead to a medical pathway which will leave them sterile. Since their gametes will never be allowed to mature, doctors will not even be able to harvest their sperm or eggs. Can any 11-year-old understand the gravity of ruling out ever having children?

Moreover can this child, for whom sex is an unimaginable, probably rather revolting adult business, consent to a treatment which will depress their future libido to the extent they may never have an orgasm? (Imagine trying to explain the concept, let alone the desirability, of an orgasm to an 11-year-old.)

These are the ethical issues which make puberty blockers