Mick Hartley

Jo Bartosch in the Telegraph on the BMA's betrayal of medical ethics:

The British Medical Association (BMA) is showing symptoms of having been infected by a dangerous mind virus. Clinicians are now self-isolating themselves from their union’s deranged decisions and resigning.

Last month, in a statement more befitting a students’ union than a professional body representing clinicians, the BMA leadership announced it had rejected the findings of the Cass review.

It urged the NHS to continue to prescribe experimental puberty blockers to teenagers who identify as transgender despite a paucity of clinical evidence as to their efficacy. The union’s 195,000 members were not consulted. Dr Cass’ recommendations, which followed a comprehensive investigation lasting four years, have been accepted by the rest of the medical profession.

BMA chair Philip Banfield solemnly declared it was time to “truly listen to this group of important, valued, and unfortunately often victimised people”, urging medical professionals to take their lead from distressed young patients rather than expert clinical guidance. He added that clinicians, patients, and families should be at the centre of an evidence-based decision-making process about their health rather than politicians.

Imagine if Banfield had made a similar pronouncement about anorexic teens, declaring how important it was to listen to "this group of important, valued, and unfortunately often victimised people" who realise that they're horribly overweight and yet are being ignored by the medical profession. 

In opting to ignore the science on puberty blockers, the BMA departs from its core purpose, which the leadership may need reminding is to champion the interests of its members, rather than the niche demands of transgender lobby groups. But Banfield’s certainty surpasses such petty concerns as clinical evidence; he and the band of zealots at the top of the BMA are drunk on their sense of moral rectitude. More concerningly, it seems they are happy to abdicate clinical judgement in favour of the feelings of the very confused teenagers they have a duty to protect.

Doctors deserve better from those who purport to represent them. The BMA has not only failed members, it has abandoned the most basic tenet of the medical profession: “First do no harm”.