Puberty blockers trial can start recruiting children after judge rejects legal challenge
Summary
A legal challenge against a clinical trial testing puberty blockers for children questioning their gender was rejected by a UK High Court judge. The trial, run by King's College London, will now begin recruiting over 220 children aged 11 to 16 to study the effects and safety of the drugs.Key Facts
- The Pathways trial will recruit children aged 11 to 16 who have gender incongruence, meaning their gender identity differs from their sex recorded at birth.
- The trial was ordered after a 2024 government ban on new puberty blocker prescriptions outside of clinical studies.
- Campaigners argued the trial’s safeguards were not strong enough and worried about long-term risks.
- The judge ruled that the claims against the trial were unlikely to succeed and confirmed children will be carefully assessed by doctors before participating.
- The study will examine physical and mental health impacts, including bone density, brain development, fertility, and wellbeing.
- Participants and their families must understand the trial and give informed consent to join.
- The trial is intended to provide scientific evidence about the benefits and risks of puberty blockers.
- Some parents and activists remain unhappy and say the trial has global importance.
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