Fears hormone therapy ban could be life-threatening for Qld kids

The Queensland government is the first in the country to ban hormone therapies for gender diverse children but the state’s doctors warn against the ‘dangerous’ move

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls during a news conference in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Queensland government is the first in the country to ban hormone therapies for gender diverse children but the state’s doctors warn against the “dangerous” move

Health Minister Tim Nicholls has announced an immediate pause on puberty blockers and cross sex hormones for new patients following bombshell revelations of rogue activities in Cairns, reported by The Courier-Mail.

For at least five years Cairns Sexual Health Service prescribed these therapies to children as young as 12 without proper medical support and documented parental consent.

“We owe it to children to ensure that care is grounded on solid evidence and that we act in this contested area and this developing area with caution,” Mr Nicholls said.

In Australia standard treatments for children experiencing gender dysphoria include immediate social transition to live as their preferred sex, puberty blockers from age 10 and cross-sex hormones from age 14.

But Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim advised caution when dealing with a very vulnerable cohort of patients with high rates of self-harm and suicide, emphasising the move could be dangerous.

“Government decisions must not prioritise ideological views over respected experts and we continue to urge the Minister to follow the recommendations of last year’s independent review of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service,” Dr Yim said.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim. Picture: Russell Shakespeare.

“It is essential that a kneejerk response from an isolated incident does not leave vulnerable patients unable to access the support and care they need. This is a highly sensitive practice area with a unique and vulnerable patient cohort.”

Dr Yim said the vast majority of doctors, nurses and other clinicians working in gender services across Queensland were dedicated to delivering safe and effective care in accordance with clinical standards and they must also be supported.

The health minister has announced a review into the evidence for stage one and two hormone therapies for children with gender dysphoria.

The investigation will be led by an independent external reviewer and the ban on the use of therapies on any new clients at the gender services would remain until the government considers the results of the probe. It is likely the review will take 10 months.

Brisbane GP Fiona Bisshop, who has a special interest in gender medicine, said “much harm will come from the decision to stop the prescribing of hormone therapies”.

“The consequences for the young people currently on the Queensland Children’s Hospital waiting list, and those who have not even made it on to the list yet, will be devastating and in many cases life-threatening,” Dr Bisshop said.

“I have already seen first-hand an increase in successful suicides happening in the UK where the young person has explicitly made it clear that the decision to halt services there meant their life was no longer worth living. Mr Nicholls and his team will bear the responsibility for these outcomes.”

Dr Fiona Bisshop. Pic: Supplied.

The push for a non-medicalised approach to gender diversity has gained momentum in Australia following a report from UK pediatrician Hilary Cass which found that medical treatment is not the best route for most young people questioning their gender identity and “extreme caution” is recommended. The National Health Service stopped the routine prescription of puberty blockers.

Gold Coast mum Melanie Jane told The Courier-Mail that following the treatment of children in Cairns she was relieved her son was still on the waiting list for the state’s gender services.

“My son is 17 and started to express gender dysphoria at aged 13,” she said.

“I took him to a private psychiatrist and was so shocked by the attitude. I expected she would talk to him and find out if he was confused or he was gay.

“But she was so harsh. She simply told me that I had to accept what he said and run with it.

“I understand that dysphoria is very real but he was in no way assessed.

“She said to me do you want an alive daughter or a dead son. I was devastated.”

A pediatrician, who treats children confused about their gender, said he was very relieved about the government's pause on the hormones for children.

“I have received the directive from Queensland Health about the restrictions but there is no time frame explained. I hope it is made permanent,” Dr Dylan Wilson said.

“The harms of the therapies are well documented with infertility and bone density problems,” he said.

Originally published as Fears hormone therapy ban could be life-threatening for Qld kids