Mick Hartley

Last month Professor Jacob George was recused last month from participation in the puberty blocker trial after the shock revelation that he’d expressed a belief on social media in the reality of biological sex. Which rather suggested that ideological compliance was considered more important than scientific expertise by the trial promoters.

Now, though, Doctors urge Wes Streeting to reinstate scientist in puberty blocker row:

More than a hundred doctors have written to Wes Streeting, the health secretary, demanding he “immediately reinstate” a scientist who was removed from overseeing a puberty blocker trial over accusations of bias.

Professor Jacob George, chief medical and scientific officer at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), intervened to get a puberty blocker trial paused last month over concerns the drugs would cause “long-term biological harms” to children.

George was subsequently withdrawn from any involvement in the NHS trial over old social media posts in which he stated that sex was a “basic biological fact” and praised JK Rowling’s position on the issue.

However, an open letter, signed by 130 health professionals, says it is “extraordinary” that the scientist could be removed from a role simply for “knowing that sex is real and important”. 

It warns that the decision to remove George will have a “chilling effect” on scientists and medical professionals because it implies that to hold senior posts they must be “ideologically aligned” with the view that people can change sex.

The letter says: “This decision, apparently predicated on Prof George’s acknowledgment of the significance of biological sex, represents a direct assault on evidence-based medicine, the statutory duty of candour and the professional rights of medics in this country.”

It has been signed by experts including Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, an endocrinologist at the University of Cambridge, and a dozen consultant psychiatrists including Dr Stella Kingett and Dr Az Hakeem.

The letter was sent to Streeting as well as the chief executive of the MHRA, the medical regulator. It calls for the MHRA “to provide a transparent justification for its actions or, failing that, to immediately reinstate Professor George to his full duties”.