Pro-trans medics lock horns with professional body over statement on Cass Review

A group of ‘gender identity specialists’ has criticised its professional body for backing the findings of the independent Cass Review.

In an open letter, trans-affirming medics questioned the credibility of the Association of Clinical Psychologists (ACP-UK) after it issued a statement supporting the Review’s analysis, that NHS England’s Tavistock-based Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) was unsafe.

Most of the 49 signatories to the letter of complaint are current or former members of staff at the Tavistock clinic.

‘Systemic failings’

The ACP-UK’s board of directors accepted that the clinic’s closure was “precipitated by a number of systemic failings”, including a “predominantly affirmative” approach to diagnosis.

The professional body concluded: “In summary, it is the view of ACP-UK that all interventions for this very vulnerable group be grounded in evidence-based practice.

“Accountability, data collection, evaluation and routine clinical best practice will be vital if the new services for gender dysphoric young people are to be fit for purpose.”

Last year, researchers at GIDS revealed that the “great majority” of young people who take puberty blockers move on to cross-sex hormones.

Dismissive

But in response, the pro-trans medics claimed GIDS’s affirmative approach had been “mispresented”.

The authors challenged “the idea that the presence of mental health difficulties and/or neurodiversity automatically impedes a person’s self-knowledge and agency”.

They were also dismissive of what they described as “the concept of ‘detransition’” and called for the creation of “spaces where gender diversity is embraced”.

Detransitioner Keira Bell was prescribed puberty blockers at 16 by staff at the Tavistock clinic. She subsequently underwent irreversible surgery to appear male, which she now deeply regrets.

Legal action

Earlier this year, NHS England announced the closure of GIDS, after the Cass Review’s interim report found it was not a “safe or viable long-term option”.

In draft guidelines open for public consultation until December, NHS England has set out proposals for an interim service to replace GIDS.

The document states that clinicians should be aware that gender-confusion “may be a transient phase, particularly for pre-pubertal children, and that there will be a range of pathways to support these children and young people and a range of outcomes”.