From the Times:
An NHS trial of puberty blockers has been halted after health officials raised concerns about “long-term biological harms” to children.
Up to 250 girls and boys as young as ten were due to be recruited to join the clinical trial of hormone-suppressing drugs run by King’s College London. However, on Friday the UK’s medical regulator wrote to King’s raising concerns and arguing for a minimum age of 14. The Department of Health said that, as a result, “preparations for the trial have now been paused”, although it could still go ahead if the issues are resolved.
The study, due to be the biggest trial yet of puberty blockers, was due to involve children being put on the drugs for up to two years and monitored until early adulthood, with their brain development, quality of life and physical and mental health compared with those not given them. The trial had been facing a legal challenge from campaigners who said it was unethical.
The letter from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) highlighted concerns including the “very likely” loss of fertility and permanent bone damage to children. The drugs pause the physical changes of puberty, such as breasts, periods or facial hair.
The MHRA said: “We would like to discuss the inclusion of a minimum age for participation in the trial … since potentially significant and, as yet, unquantified risk of long-term biological harms is present to participants and biological safety has not been definitively demonstrated in this proposed cohort, at the very least, there should be a graded … approach starting with those aged 14 as the lower limit of eligibility.”
It highlighted the infertility risk, stating: “It is widely understood that reduction in gametogenesis will very likely cause infertility in these young people. These are medically consequential effects for a future adult individual that may involve infertility treatment and significant medical interventions.”
They’ve just realised? People have been pointing this out for months. These drugs are serious life-changers. It’s grossly irresponsible to hand these out to confused youngsters like they’re guinea pigs, when they have no conception of the life-changing consequences.
It’s basically a trial to see if sterilising a child will cure them of their “gender dysphoria” – and given that some 80% of these kids are likely to be gay, it’s in effect an attempt to “cure” them of their homosexuality.
A pause – or a prelude to cancellation? We’ll see.
Added:
Mick Hartley 
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