28 Jan 2008 - Calls for hormone block drugs for trans children
28th January 2008 16:55
PinkNews.co. uk staff writer
http://www.pinknews .co.uk/news/ articles/ 2005-6690. html
A Labour politician is backing a change to guidelines that stop
young people who have Gender Identity Disorder being treated with
hormones to forestall the effects of puberty.
Dr Lynne Jones, the MP for Selly Oak in Birmingham, has lent her
support to calls for a change to the rules.
The Sunday Mercury has discovered that at least three children from
the UK, one of whom is twelve years old, have travelled to the US
for drug treatment.
Two of the children had attempted suicide.
Current guidelines from the British Society for Paediatrics,
Endocrinology and Diabetes recommend that the drugs in question
should not be administered until after puberty.
Dr Jones, who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on
Children and has been a consistent advocate for gay and trans
rights, told the Sunday Mercury:
"As long as halting puberty doesn't cause irreversible changes for
the young person, then we should adopt the procedures common in
other counties, such as the Netherlands and the US.
"Each individual case should be treated on its own merit."
Dr Simona Giordano, a lecturer in bioethics at Manchester
University, is leading calls for a change to the rules.
"A US specialist has reported having seen three patients from
Britain, all aged 12 to 14, not treated satisfactorily in the UK,"
she told the Sunday Mercury.
"Two of the three British patients who have already travelled to
Boston had made serious suicide attempts after and during their
treatment in the UK.
"Neither have attempted self-harm since. By depriving youngsters
this treatment in Britain, we are depriving them relief from extreme
suffering and exposing them to the anguish and terror of growing in
a body that is experienced as alien.
"The effects of the 'hormone blockers' are easily reversible.
"However, other therapies used at later stages, including
masculinising and feminising hormones and surgery, are more
difficult to reverse and are invasive.
"Current evidence on risks and benefits of 'hormone blockers' in
children and adolescents does not justify the strong resistance of
British specialists. "
-----------
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C. section 107. Please note that distribution of articles doesn't
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-----
~~Autumn Sandeen~~
Transgender Advocacy And Services Center (TASC) of San Diego
Planning Group Member
transgendernews YahooGroup News Archivist/Moderator
On the web:
- The View From (Ab)Normal Heights (http://abnormalheig hts.org)
- Pam's House Blend (http://pamshouseble nd.com)
- Ex-Gay Watch (http://www.exgaywat ch.com)
-----
"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up
and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and
watch and work: You don't give up."
--Anne Lamott
PinkNews.co. uk staff writer
http://www.pinknews .co.uk/news/ articles/ 2005-6690. html
A Labour politician is backing a change to guidelines that stop
young people who have Gender Identity Disorder being treated with
hormones to forestall the effects of puberty.
Dr Lynne Jones, the MP for Selly Oak in Birmingham, has lent her
support to calls for a change to the rules.
The Sunday Mercury has discovered that at least three children from
the UK, one of whom is twelve years old, have travelled to the US
for drug treatment.
Two of the children had attempted suicide.
Current guidelines from the British Society for Paediatrics,
Endocrinology and Diabetes recommend that the drugs in question
should not be administered until after puberty.
Dr Jones, who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on
Children and has been a consistent advocate for gay and trans
rights, told the Sunday Mercury:
"As long as halting puberty doesn't cause irreversible changes for
the young person, then we should adopt the procedures common in
other counties, such as the Netherlands and the US.
"Each individual case should be treated on its own merit."
Dr Simona Giordano, a lecturer in bioethics at Manchester
University, is leading calls for a change to the rules.
"A US specialist has reported having seen three patients from
Britain, all aged 12 to 14, not treated satisfactorily in the UK,"
she told the Sunday Mercury.
"Two of the three British patients who have already travelled to
Boston had made serious suicide attempts after and during their
treatment in the UK.
"Neither have attempted self-harm since. By depriving youngsters
this treatment in Britain, we are depriving them relief from extreme
suffering and exposing them to the anguish and terror of growing in
a body that is experienced as alien.
"The effects of the 'hormone blockers' are easily reversible.
"However, other therapies used at later stages, including
masculinising and feminising hormones and surgery, are more
difficult to reverse and are invasive.
"Current evidence on risks and benefits of 'hormone blockers' in
children and adolescents does not justify the strong resistance of
British specialists. "
-----------
Copyright Statement: Material appearing in this e-mail is
distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have
expressed an interest in receiving the article material for research
and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S.
C. section 107. Please note that distribution of articles doesn't
constitute endorsement of the articles' content; "opposition"
articles are distributed to educate interested readership about
contrary and unfavorable standpoints.
-----
~~Autumn Sandeen~~
Transgender Advocacy And Services Center (TASC) of San Diego
Planning Group Member
transgendernews YahooGroup News Archivist/Moderator
On the web:
- The View From (Ab)Normal Heights (http://abnormalheig hts.org)
- Pam's House Blend (http://pamshouseble nd.com)
- Ex-Gay Watch (http://www.exgaywat ch.com)
-----
"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up
and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and
watch and work: You don't give up."
--Anne Lamott